Third mogul sign

Third mogul sign

Third mogul sign is the prominent left atrial appendage visible on the left cardiac border below the pulmonary artery shadow on chest X-ray [1] (or a similar shadow due to other causes). It can be seen in cases of severe mitral stenosis. Click here to see an X-ray with third mogul sign.

Similar bulges due to post mitral valve replacement left ventricular pseudoaneurysms have also been described [2]. Detection of third mogul sign in such cases is of great significance as left ventricular pseudoaneurysms are more prone for rupture than true aneurysms, with potential catastrophic results.

Moguls are projections of snow seen on a ski slope. First mogul on chest X-ray is the aortic knuckle, second mogul the main pulmonary artery, third mogul the left atrial appendage and fourth mogul the left ventricular apex [3]. Masses in the same location can also cause a third mogul [4].

References

1. Gorospe L, Fernández-Méndez MÁ, Ayala-Carbonero AM, García-Poza J, González-Gordaliza C. Ortner’s Syndrome Secondary to a Huge Left Atrium. Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Aug;100(2):732.
2. Aldridge S, Frazer J, Tawn J, Wilde P. Left ventricular aneurysm formation: an iatrogenic cause for the third mogul. Br J Radiol. 1988 Jun;61(726):463-8.
3. Segen JC. Mogul sign. The Dictionary of Modern Medicine.
4. A. Arango, A. Martínez de Alegría, M. C. Ageitos Casais, I. Couto Rodriguez, G. Tirapu de Sagrario, I. Sanz Falque, M. V. Trujillo Ariza, A. Banguero Gutierrez, A. Coessens. Azygos vein and Azygos lobe: Anatomy, variants and pathology. Congress: ECR 2013. Poster No.: C-1212.