Pitfalls in the diagnosis of tricuspid atresia: Report of a new angiocardiographic sign

Abstract

Two patients with the classical clinical, angiographic, and echocardiographic signs of tricuspid atresia are reported, where the correct diagnoses were made at operation; one child had cor triatriatum dexter, the other child total anomalous systemic venous drainage to the left atrium. The literature on cor triatriatum dexter and total anomalous systemic venous drainage is discussed and a new angiographic sign for the differentiation from tricuspid atresia is reported: nonopacification of the right atrial appendage with right atrial angiocardiography.