title: Aortic root abscess resulting from endocarditis: spectrum of angiographic findings.
abstract: Abscesses in the aortic root are a serious complication of infective endocarditis and require accurate diagnosis for antibiotic and surgical management. Nineteen cases of endocarditis of a native valve or prosthetic valve and adjacent abscess cavities were identified with angiography. Of 6 patients with endocarditis of a native valve, 5 had bicuspid aortic valves and all had severe aortic regurgitation. Of 13 patients with endocarditis of a prosthetic aortic valve, all had paravalvular regurgitation. Abscesses in the aortic root were saccular, ranged from 1 to 3 cm in diameter, and, depending on sinus of origin, extended beneath the main and right pulmonary arteries or into the interventricular septum or mitral anulus. Fistulas were detected into the mitral anulus in 8 patients, and into the right ventricle in 3 patients. No complications from the catheterization were recorded during the 48-hour follow-up.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged