Echocardiography
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Review Case Reports
Fibrous cyst of the chordae tendineae of the mitral valve: echocardiographic appearance and literature review.
Fibrous cyst of the chordae tendineae of the mitral valve (MV) is defined as a fibrous cyst arising from the chordae tendineae of the MV. It is extremely rare and its etiology is not clear. We present a case of a cystic structure within the left ventricle. ⋯ It moves freely, resulting in stenosis of inflow tract and outflow tract of the left ventricle. Intraoperative assessment and histopathologic examination revealed it as a fibrous cyst. Its echocardiographic appearance is unique and it must be resected immediately.
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The right ventricle (RV) can be described in terms of 3 components: the inlet, the apex, and the infundibulum. In the normal adult, the RV shows an arrangement suited for pumping blood against low resistance, with a mass about one sixth that of left ventricle (LV) mass, and a larger volume than the LV. The RV is able to manage a progressive increase in the afterload by increasing contractility and remodeling. ⋯ In case of increased afterload, the RA is enlarged, denoting high RA pressure, as a consequence of elevated RV diastolic pressure. RA area is a strong predictor of adverse clinical outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension. In patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, in several congenital heart diseases, and in Eisenmenger syndrome, symptoms and prognosis are greatly dependent on RV function and its ability to adapt to a chronic increase in afterload.
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Ebstein's anomaly is a complex congenital lesion which primarily involves the tricuspid valve. The tricuspid leaflets are tethered to varying degrees to the right ventricular free wall and the ventricular septum often resulting in significant tricuspid regurgitation and a small functioning right ventricular chamber. ⋯ Although two-dimensional echocardiography represents the primary modality for the diagnosis of this anomaly, three-dimensional echocardiography provides incremental value in characterizing the extent and severity of tethering of individual tricuspid valve leaflets. This information is useful in surgical decision making whether to repair or replace the tricuspid valve.