A highly-detailed anatomical study of left atrial auricle as revealed by in-vivo computed tomography
Cesare Mantini,
Francesco Corradi,
Fabrizio Ricci,
Bjarke Jensen,
Claudio Tana,
Valeria Di Mascio,
Domenico Mastrodicasa,
Benedetta Bucciarelli,
Luca Procaccini,
Luca Saba,
Marco Tana,
Filippo Cademartiri,
Raffaele De Caterina
Affiliations
Cesare Mantini
Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy; Corresponding author. Institute of Radiology “G. d’Annunzio” University – Chieti, “SS. Annunziata” Hospital, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66013, Chieti, Italy.
Francesco Corradi
Institute of Cardiology, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
Fabrizio Ricci
Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Corresponding author. Institute of Cardiology, “G. d’Annunzio” University– Chieti “SS. Annunziata” Hospital, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
Bjarke Jensen
Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Claudio Tana
Geriatrics Clinic, SS. Annunziata Hospital of Chieti, 66100, Chieti, Italy
Valeria Di Mascio
Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, “G. D'Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
Domenico Mastrodicasa
Stanford University Department of Radiology, Stanford, USA
Benedetta Bucciarelli
Department of Pediatrics, Politechnic University of Marche, G. Salesi Children's Hospital, Ancona, Italy
Luca Procaccini
Department of Radiology, G. Mazzini Hospital, Teramo, Italy
Luca Saba
Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
Marco Tana
Internal Medicine Unit and Department of Vascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Ultrasound, SS. Annunziata Hospital of Chieti, Italy
Filippo Cademartiri
Department of Imaging, Fondazione Monasterio, CNR, Pisa, Italy
Raffaele De Caterina
Cardiology, University of Pisa and University Cardiology Division, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; Fondazione Villa Serena per la Ricerca, Città Sant’Angelo-Pescara, Italy
The left atrial auricle (LAA) is the main source of intracardiac thrombi, which contribute significantly to the total number of stroke cases. It is also considered a major site of origin for atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing ablation procedures. The LAA is known to have a high degree of morphological variability, with shape and structure identified as important contributors to thrombus formation. A detailed understanding of LAA form, dimension, and function is crucial for radiologists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons.This review describes the normal anatomy of the LAA as visualized through multiple imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and echocardiography. Special emphasis is devoted to a discussion on how the morphological characteristics of the LAA are closely related to the likelihood of developing LAA thrombi, including insights into LAA embryology.
