title: Misleading echocardiographic diagnosis of a prosthetic heart valve vegetation due to the cavitation phenomenon.
abstract: The cavitation phenomenon is caused by the local pressure depression that occurrs during the closure and/or opening of prosthetic valve leaflets. Occasionally, peculiar features of echocardiographic images generated by cavitation can simulate a mass or vegetation, and are a potential source of diagnostic error. A clinical case that illustrates this phenomenon is described.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Alvarez Buylla, Mieres, Asturias;
authors.forename: Ramón Suárez
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Piñero-Uribe
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pujadas
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leta
authors.forename: Guillem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pons-Lladó