False Tendones - Echocardiographic Features and Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND: False tendons(FT), also referred to as pseudotendons or bands, are fibrous strings that pass from two papillary muscles and insert elsewhere except mitral valve leaflets. They can be classified into six types according to sites of attachment to the left ventricular wall and thickness. FT have been generally considered to be common normal structural variants with no clinical significance. But, these may be misinterpreted echocardiographically as left ventricular endocardium of the ventricular septum or mural thrornbus, since the echo from the tendon might mimic these structures. Moreover they have been reported to be a cause of functional ejection murmur. Some investigators have suggested that FT rnight be an etiologic factor in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias in the autopsy and the clinical studies. METHODS: We evaluated the prevalence of the false tendons in consecutive 263 patients for 2 month period in routine echocardiographic method. In cases with FT, we examined their attachment and thickness accurately by tilting and rotating the echo probe, and classified them. In possible 9 cases, 24 hour ambulatory ECG monitoring was performed and evaluated the existence of ventricular arrhythmias. RESULTS: FT were found in routine echocardiographic views in 15 patients(male 11, female 4) out of 263 patients(prevalence 5.7%). The pye of FT were longitudinal type 7 cases(thin 3 cases, thick 4 cases) most commonly, diagonal type 3 cases(thin 2 cases, thick 1 cases), transverse thin type 4 cases and apical thin type 1 case. In 24 hour ambulatory ECG monitoring, ventricular premature contractions were detected in all 9 patients. Interestingly in one patient(case 5) visited with dyspnea and repetitive long period of palpitation, suggestive ILVT(idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia) and FT(longitudinal thick type) were coexisted. CONCLUSION: FT are common normal variants, but may be confused with other normal structures. Clinically in apparently healthy subjects with symptomatic idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias(ventricular premature contractions, ILVT and so on), the echocardiography would be performed carefully for the existence of FT and could be helpful for the evaluation of etiologies.

A Case of Nonfamilial Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestasis / 대한간학회지

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) is a rare desease, which usually manifests between the age of 10 and 20. Its main clinical feature is multiple recurrent episodes of cholestasis without extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. We report here a case of nonfamilial benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis. The patient has experienced recurrent jaundice with pruritus since childhood. Main bile duct obstrution was excluded by abdominal CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Other causes of cholestasis were not found. Hepatic histology revealed bile plug which were mainly concentrated in the centrilobular region, and increased number of mononuclear cells in the portal triad, but hepatic parenchyma showed no inflammation and necrosis. In the last anicteric period, she was healthy and the liver function test and biopsy specimen were normal.

A Case of Nonfamilial Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestasis / 대한간학회지

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) is a rare desease, which usually manifests between the age of 10 and 20. Its main clinical feature is multiple recurrent episodes of cholestasis without extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. We report here a case of nonfamilial benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis. The patient has experienced recurrent jaundice with pruritus since childhood. Main bile duct obstrution was excluded by abdominal CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Other causes of cholestasis were not found. Hepatic histology revealed bile plug which were mainly concentrated in the centrilobular region, and increased number of mononuclear cells in the portal triad, but hepatic parenchyma showed no inflammation and necrosis. In the last anicteric period, she was healthy and the liver function test and biopsy specimen were normal.

Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Combined with Sick Sinus Syndrome

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare but one of the most common venous anomalies. Its incidence is reported as 0.3 - 0.5% in the general population, but in those with congenital heart disease, its incidence may range as high as 3 - 10%. PLSVC draining into coronary sinus is usually of little hemodynamic consequences, but it may become significant during cardiac catheterization, transvenous pacemaker insertion and cardiac surgery. Some investigators suggested that this anomaly is related with cardiac electrical instability due to anomalous development of AV nodal tissue with venous draining anomaly, and others suggested that the predisposing anomaly is in the sinus node and the dysrrhythmia is part of sick sinus syndrome. We report a 48 year-old female who had intermittent palpitation and near syncope, was diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome and underwent to implant permanent dual pacemaker implantation. Before implantation, we suspected PLSVC in 2-dimensional and contrast echocardiogram and confirmed it by cardiac catheterization. So, we successfully performed pacemaker implantation via right subclavian approach.