INTRODUCTION
Enlarged left atrium (LA) is a common finding in severe mitral stenosis (MS) and severe mitral regurgitation. It typically presents with dyspnea in proportion to the enlarged atrium. There is a poor correlation between the size of the left atrium and the severity of the MS. Our case creates clinicians’ awareness to consider full diagnostic workup for enlarged LA as patients may not always have symptoms.
We report a case of a 34-year-old female with low-grade dyspnea on exertion despite markedly dilated left atrium (LA) on chest radiography which clouded our interpretation of the cause of enlarged cardiac silhouette. However, echocardiogram proved useful in demonstrating severe mitral stenosis and the giant LA.