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False Diagnosis of Aortic Stenosis Due to Doppler Recording of Mitral Regurgitation from the Suprasternal Notch
Author(s) -
RIFKIN ROBERT D.,
RAJU PADMA K.,
SKOWRONSKI MARJORIE
Publication year - 1991
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/j.1540-8175.1991.tb01400.x
Subject(s) - medicine , stenosis , regurgitation (circulation) , cardiology , mitral regurgitation , aortic valve , radiology
The suprasternal notch provides an important window for estimating aortic valve gradient with a nonimaging continuous‐wave transducer. Since the Doppler beam is highly angulated with respect to mitral flow, it is generally assumed that mitral regurgitation cannot simulate significant aortic stenosis in this window. We report on an 88‐year‐old patient with clinically suspected aortic stenosis and heavy valve calcification, in whom suprasternal notch Doppler with a nonimaging probe showed a high‐velocity flow that appeared to confirm the diagnosis of aortic stenosis. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated moderate mitral regurgitation due to flail leaflet and no aortic gradient. Awareness of the potential to image mitral regurgitation from the suprasternal notch is stressed to avoid misdiagnosis. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 8, January 1991)