Multiple Left Ventricular Diverticula Detected by Second Harmonic Imaging

A 51-year-old Japanese man was admitted to hospital for evaluation of anterior chest pain at rest. He had a past history of cerebellar infarction when he was 47 years old. A conventional 2-dimensional echocardiogram revealed normal left ventricular function, and no abnormal findings. However, second harmonic imaging demonstrated 2 noncontractile diverticula at the submitral annular portion of the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Second harmonic imaging revealed another contractile diverticulum at the anterior wall of left ventricle in the short-axis view. These findings were confirmed by left ventriculography. After confirming the diagnosis of multiple left ventricular diverticula, a rare type of congenital anomaly, anticoagulant therapy was started and he is well to date. Left ventricular diverticula are clinically very important because they are often associated with serious complications such as systemic thromboembolism. Enhancement of the left ventricular endocardial borders by second harmonic imaging is useful for the diagnosis of left ventricular diverticula. (Circ J 2003; 67: 972 - 974)