[A case of quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic steno-insufficiency]

A case of quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic steno-insufficiency was described. A 60-year-old man who had been shown to be suffering from heart murmur was admitted to our hospital. Both aortogram and echocardiogram showed a significant aortic insufficiency with mild stenosis. The aortic valve revealed 4 cusps consisting of 3 equal cusps and a smaller cusp and it had a poor coaptation and mild calcification at each commissure. The coronary orifices were normally located. Aortic valve replacement was carried out with a 25 mm St. Jude Medical valve. Histological findings showed edematous and fibrous changes. His postoperative clinical course was uneventful. Quadricuspid aortic valve is rare and the literatures were reviewed with 33 reported cases in Japan.