[Echocardiographic signs of congenital absence of the pulmonary semilunar cusps]

Five patients with congenital absence of the pulmonary valve leaflets were studied with M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. In addition to previously reported findings in this heart malformation, we found the presence of a narrow valvular ring that obstructs the outflow tract of the right ventricle, and a to-and-fro movement of the contrast bubbles from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery suggesting pulmonary regurgitation. These features along with the volume overload data of the right ventricle suggests the diagnosis of congenital absence of the pulmonary valve leaflets.