Collateral findings during computed tomography scan for atrial fibrillation ablation: Let’s take a look around

Figure 1 Antero-posterior (A) and left lateral (B) view of three-dimensional reconstruction of the left atrium and pulmonary veins after merging the cardiac computed tomography with the electroanatomical map created with the Carto 3 system (Biosense Webster, Inc. , Diamond Bar, CA, United States). Note the ablation tags (red dots) placed around the pulmonary vein ostia on the computed tomography reconstruction. In the left lateral view, the narrow ridge between the left-sided pulmonary veins and the left atrial appendage can be appreciated (white dashed line).

Figure 2 Examples of collateral findings detected with the preprocedural cardiac computed tomography. A: Pulmonary thromboembolism involving principal branch of right pulmonary artery (red arrow); B: Classic “polka dotted” appearance due to the thickened vertebral trabeculae, highly suspicious for vertebral hemangioma (red arrow).

Figure 3 Examples of collateral findings detected with the preprocedural cardiac computed tomography. A: Ostium primum atrial septal defect (red arrow); B: Abnormal dilated vessels (red arrow) diagnostic for pulmonary arterovenous malformation located in the lower lobe of the right lung.