CONGENITAL PARTIAL PERICARDIAL DEFECT WITH HERNIATION OF THE LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE

Congenital defects of the pericardium are considered rare. Until 1979 , the reported cases were only about 200.1 Total absence of the left pericardium is the most common defect2 and less common is a partial defect of the left pericardium. Other types, i.e. isolated right-sided defects, total pericardial absence and diaphragmatic pericardial defects are very rare.3 Before the last decade, the diagnosis of partial defects of the left pericardium was very difficult and sometimes made only during surgical intervention or post-mortem examination. More recently however, the use of angiocardiography and induced left pneumothorax have made diagnosis of this kind of pericardial defect relatively easy. In the present case, the only finding was the prominence of the left hilum on radiography and the correct diagnosis was made through angiocardiography and left pneumothorax.