Cor Triatriatum in an Adult with Late Presentation of Symptoms

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by the presence of a membrane that divides the left atrium into posterosuperior and anteroinferior chambers. Classically, patients are diagnosed in childhood. We report an adult case of cor triatriatum presenting with dyspnea, and note that the strengthened use of transthoracic echocardiography study helps the differential diagnosis of patients complaining of dyspnea and orthopnea in the emergency department. (C) 2013, Elsevier Taiwan LLC and the Chinese Taipei Society of Ultrasound in Medicine.