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Mitral valve aneurysms: Clinical characteristics, echocardiographic abnormalities, and possible mechanisms of formation
Author(s) -
Pena José Luiz B.,
Bomfim Tarciso O.,
Fortes Paulo R. L.,
SimãoFilho Charles,
Souza AndradeFilho José
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.13556
Subject(s) - medicine , aneurysm , etiology , cardiology , endocarditis , mitral valve , transesophageal echocardiogram , radiology , perforation , surgery , punching , materials science , metallurgy
Aims Mitral valve aneurysms ( MVA ) are most frequently associated with endocarditis. Echocardiography is the method of choice for diagnosis, and color flow imaging is an important, easy method to detect MVA ruptures. We aimed to study the clinical and echocardiographic findings and their relation to the mechanism of aneurysm formation. Methods and Results We reviewed clinical and echocardiographic records of 18 patients during a 17‐year period, corresponding to 0.02% of the total studies performed at our institution. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiogram ( TTE ), and all except two underwent transesophageal echocardiogram ( TEE ). The aneurysm was located either on the anterior leaflet (16 cases) or on the posterior leaflet (two cases). In seven cases, the probable aneurysm formation mechanism was an aortic regurgitant jet striking the anterior mitral leaflet. Perforation was present in 17 (94.4%) patients, and 10 (55.5%) cases presented more than one aneurysm. No patients underwent surgery exclusively because of the echocardiography finding. Conclusion Different etiologies and formation mechanisms can occur in MVA . Echocardiography plays a fundamental role, providing meticulous examination of the mitral valve anatomy and flow. Unlike standard recommendations, clinical management is possible, and diagnosis does not imply immediate surgical correction.