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Age and Ageing Advance Access originally published online on July 9, 2009
Age and Ageing 2009 38(5):627-628; doi:10.1093/ageing/afp111
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Case Report

Unilateral breast oedema in a case of non-rheumatic giant left atrium

Meghna Jani1 and Chandan Biswas2

1 ST2 General Medicine, Salford Royal University Teaching Hospital, Manchester M6 8HD, UK
2 Consultant in Elderly Medicine and Acute Medicine, Dewsbury District Hospital, Dewsbury WF13 4HS, UK

Address correspondence to: M. Jani, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD, UK. Tel: (+44) (0)161 877 4649. Email: meghna.jani{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

Giant left atrium (GLA) is a well-described entity in association with rheumatic heart disease. However, mitral valve prolapse is an extremely unusual cause of GLA, especially without the compressive symptoms it can often accompany. We discuss a case of a 78-year-old lady with no prior history of rheumatic heart disease with these findings with the unusual presentation of accompanied unilateral breast oedema as a manifestation of heart failure. This case illustrates the investigations and treatment options for GLA and the need for prompt assessment as it increases the risk of sudden death; therefore, its presence warrants careful evaluation and surgical intervention when appropriate.

Keywords: Giant left atrium, unilateral breast oedema, mitral valve prolapse, cardiomegaly

Received 16 February 2009; accepted in revised form 1 June 2009.


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