Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm causing superior vena caval obstruction and effusive-constrictive pericarditis.

ABSTRACT

A diabetic woman with a silent myocardial infarction on clinical and electrocardiographic criteria presented with findings on physical examination of superior vena caval obstruction and effusive-constrictive pericarditis. A left ventricular posterior wall pseudoaneurysm and intrapericardial hematoma were found, with extrinsic compression of the right atrium. The diagnosis was first suspected by radionuclide imaging and confirmed by contrast angiography and surgery.