A Case of 51 Year Old Woman with Quadricuspid Aortic Valve Associated with Regurgitation

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital malformation of the aortic valve. A case is reported of a 51 year old woman with quadricuspid aortic valve associated with regurgitation. In the past, quadricuspid aortic valve was recognised at surgery or necropsy, but now transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography play a pivotal role in diagnosing this rare valve malformation. On occasion the transthoracic echocardiogram cannot show the quadricuspid nature of the aortic valve, and transesophageal echocardiography must be performed.

Cerebral Infarction Caused by Floating Thoracic aortic Thrombus in Young Male

A case of embolic episode resulting in cerebral infarction from an unknown source is reported. This occured in a young male. He had no cardiovascular risk factors. Diagnostic evaluation for identifying the source of embolism revealed a large, pedunculated and mobile thrombus arising from a nonaneurysmatic and nonatheroslerotic descending aorta. The thrombus was identified by transesophageal echocardiography, and was successfully removed by aortic thromboendarterectomy. We emphasize the importnace of transesophageal echocardiography as a reliable method for the diagnosis of thoracic aorta diseases and for identification of aortic thrombi. An aggressive surgical approach is recommended in the low-risk parient to prevent further embolic episodes.