Partial atrioventricular septal defect assessed by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: a case report

A 48-year-old woman was admitted with a heart murmur and increased difficulty in breathing. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a defect in the lower part of the atrial septum [(primum atrial septal defect (ASD)] and a pouch at the interventricular septum. Color Doppler echocardiography detected grade 3/4 mitral regurgitation. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) revealed a cleft in the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve toward the tricuspid valve, and the ASD located near the atrioventricular valves with 14mm in minor axis. Color Doppler three-dimensional echocardiography disclosed left-to-right ASD shunt toward the atrial posterior wall. No shunt through the pouch at the membranous part, left ventricular outflow obstruction, or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was observed. RT-3DE is quite useful to describe complicated congenital heart disease.