Diverticulum or aneurysm of left ventricle

Two cases of abnormalities in development of the left ventricular wall (left ventricular aneurysm or diverticulum) are presented. In 1 case the defect was an isolated finding in an otherwise asymptomatic child. In the second, the malformation was associated with midline thoracoabdominal defects in a middle-aged man. Both patients had the diagnosis confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiography and underwent successful surgical correction of the abnormality. The clinical, angiographic and pathologic characteristics of congenital diverticulum and aneurysm of the heart are reviewed, and an attempt is made to clarify the concept of congenital aneurysm and diverticulum of the heart.