False inferior pseudoaneurysm: two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings.
The noninvasive differentiation of true aneurysm from pseudoaneurysm is sensitively and specifically accomplished with two-dimensional echocardiography. Recent reports suggest that Doppler flow patterns may further enhance the specificity of the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm. We present a patient with ventriculographic and two-dimensional echocardiographic features of an inferior pseudoaneurysm. Doppler examination, however, failed to show phasic flow characteristic of a small communicating orifice between two larger chambers. At surgery, a large posterolateral true aneurysm was found. Thus the addition of Doppler flow patterns to imaging information may help to distinguish pseudoaneurysms from true aneurysms.
Rosenfeld
J
J
Pauline and Adolph Weinberger Laboratory for Cardiopulmonary Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9034.
Cochran
R P
RP
Abraham
M
M
Hillis
L D
LD
Taylor
A L
AL
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis