Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 57(6): 367-368
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185735
Short Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

“When Aneurysm Ain't Aneurysm”: Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Mimicked by Healed Abscess Cavity under the Aortic Valve

M. Y. Emmert1 , S. P. Salzberg1 , A. Plass1 , S. Behjati1 , C. Felix2 , V. Falk1 , F. Siclari1 , J. Gruenenfelder1
  • 1Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 2Clinic for Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

received January 22, 2009

Publication Date:
25 August 2009 (online)

Abstract

In a 70-year-old patient with severe aortic valve stenosis, preoperative standard imaging (transthoracic echocardiography and angiography) detected an unclear subannular cavity structure. Initially interpreted as an aneurysm of Valsalva, the structure was identified intraoperatively as a huge chronic abscess cavity and exclusion was carried out by pericardial patch plasty. This case draws attention to the importance of a differential diagnosis of an abscess due to infective endocarditis in cases of unclear subannular structures rashly diagnosed as aneurysm of Valsalva.

References

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  • 2 Arnett E, Roberts N, Roberts W C. Valve ring abscess in active infective endocarditis. Frequency, location, and clues to clinical diagnosis from the study of 95 necropsy patients.  Circulation. 1976;  54 (1) 140-145
  • 3 Lijoi A, Parodi E et al. Unruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva causing coronary insufficiency: case report and review of the literature.  Tex Heart Inst J. 2002;  29 (1) 40-44
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Mr. Maximilian Y. Emmert

University Hospital Zurich
Cardiac and Vascular Surgery

Raemi Street 100

8006 Zurich

Switzerland

Phone: + 41 4 42 55 11 11

Fax: + 41 4 42 55 11 11

Email: maximilian_emmert@web.de