[Monodimensional echographic study of echogenic masses in the left ventricular outflow tract in aortic valve...

The presence of a mass in the left ventricular outflow tract is often a sign of severe pathology. The authors report 4 cases illustrating this echocardiographic diagnosis. In bacterial or mycotic endocarditis these masses suggest either aortic valve vegetations or prolapse of an aortic cusp. Two causes may be observed in patients with aortic bioprostheses: paravalvular leak with rocking of the sewing ring and destruction of the bioprosthetic cusps. In the 4 cases presented hemodynamic and angiographic investigations were contra indicated because of the risk of embolism of bacterial vegetations. Echocardiography gave precise diagnosis of the causal disease process and led to early surgical cure. Correlations between the anatomical and echocardiographic appearances are described and discussed.