Anomalous chordae tendinae. A source of echocardiographic confusion.
A unique instance of an anomalous chorda tendinae visualized in the left ventricular outflow tract during M-Mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, and subsequently confirmed during surgery for concomitant severe rheumatic valvular disease, is described. The M-Mode appearance can be confused with more serious forms of heart disease manifesting extraneous echoes in the outflow tract, and an approach to these echoes is described, based on a review of the literature.
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006337:Heart Murmurs; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis