The imaging features of aorto-left ventricular tunnel and the analysis of misdiagnosis / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value and misdiagnosis cause of echocardiography (UCG) and CT in aorto-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT). Methods UCG and CT of 5 patients who were diagnosed as ALVT by surgical operation during August 2010 to October 2014 in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital were reviewed and analyzed. Results By UCG, 4 cases were diagnosed as ALVT. The abnormal tunnel between aortic root and left ventricle could be clearly displayed with two dimensional echocardiography. On color Doppler flow image (CDFI), it could be clearly demonstrated that the blood flow went into aorta from left ventricle in systolic period via aortic valves and ALVT, and back to left ventricle in diastolic period via ALVT. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was found in 2 patients, and aortic valve reflux in 1 patient. According to Hovaquimian classification, 2/4 patients were diagnosed as ALVT of typeⅠ, and other 2 patients as ALVT of typeⅡ. One case was misdiagnosed as left coronary artery-left ventricle fistula. By CT, 2 cases were diagnosed as ALVT and 1 case was misdiagnosed as left coronary artery-left ventricle fistula. Conclusion The combination of UCG and CT is a reliable technique in the diagnosis of ALVT, which has significance in therapeutic strategy making and prognosis prediction.