Invasion of Pheochromocytoma from the Caudal Vena Cava to the Right Ventricular Cavity in a Dog.

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-secreting tumors that are composed of neuroectoderm-derived chromaffin cells. An 8-year-old miniature dachshund with abdominal distension was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor with invasion from the caudal vena cava to the right ventricular cavity. The dog died due to hypotensive shock from the vagal reflex, and on autopsy, an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma (paraganglioma) was diagnosed in the caudal abdomen. At autopsy, the tumor plug of the caudal vena cava was confirmed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report that echo-captured the extension of pheochromocytoma in the right ventricle and shows it in a figure and video file.

Geometry of the left ventricular outflow tract assessed by 3D TEE in patients with aortic stenosis: impact of upper septal hypertrophy on measurements of Doppler-derived left ventricular stroke volume.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how upper septal hypertrophy (USH) affects Doppler-derived left ventricular stroke volume (SV) in patients with AS. The aims of this study were to: (1) validate the accuracy of 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) measurements of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), (2) evaluate the differences in LVOT geometry between AS patients with and without USH, and (3) assess the impact of USH on measurement of SV. METHODS: In protocol 1, both 3D TEE and multi-detector computed tomography were performed in 20 patients with AS [aortic valve area (AVA) ≤ 1.5 cm2]. Multiplanar reconstruction was used to measure the LVOT short and long diameters in four parts from the tip of the septum to the annulus. In protocol 2, the same 3D TEE measurements were performed in AS patients (AVA ≤ 1.5 cm2, n = 129) and controls (n = 30). We also performed 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography in all patients. RESULTS: In protocol 1, excellent correlations of LVOT parameters were found between the two modalities. In protocol 2, the USH group had smaller LVOT short and long diameters than the non-USH group. Although no differences in mean pressure gradient, or SV calculated with the 3D method existed between the two groups, the USH group had greater SV calculated with the Doppler method (73 ± 15 vs. 66 ± 15 ml) and aortic valve area (0.89 ± 0.26 vs. 0.73 ± 0.24 cm2) than the non-USH group. CONCLUSIONS: 3D TEE can provide a precise assessment of the LVOT in AS. USH affects the LVOT geometry in patients with AS, which might lead to inaccurate assessments of disease severity.

Value of anatomical aortic valve area using real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with aortic stenosis: a comparison between tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves.

AIMS: Accurate assessment of disease severity is critical for appropriate treatment of patients with aortic stenosis (AS). This study investigated the influence of aortic-valve morphology on the determination of anatomical aortic-valve area (AVA) in patients with AS. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective study included 126 patients with AS who underwent transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Aortic-valve area was measured using (i) planimetric two-dimensional (2D) TEE, (ii) volumetric three-dimensional (3D) TEE, and (iii) the continuity equation (CE) obtained with transthoracic echocardiography. Of these, 20 patients also underwent contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Aortic-valve area was measured from multiplanar reconstruction of the MDCT images. Of the 126 patients, 20 (15.9%) were diagnosed with bicuspid AS and 106 were diagnosed with tricuspid AS. There was an excellent correlation between AVAADCT and AVA3DTEE (r = 0.83, P < 0.001) and a somewhat lower correlation between AVAADCT and AVA2DTEE (r = 0.63, P = 0.006). In the tricuspid AS group, both AVA2DTEE and AVA3DTEE significantly correlated with AVACE (r = 0.63, mean difference 0.13 ± 0.24 cm(2), and r = 0.83, mean difference 0.03 ± 0.12 cm(2), respectively, both P < 0.001). In contrast, in the bicuspid AS group, AVA3DTEE significantly correlated with AVACE (r = 0.83, mean difference 0.10 ± 0.18 cm(2), P < 0.001), whereas AVA2DTEE did not (r = 0.42, mean difference 0.48 ± 0.32 cm(2), P = 0.066). CONCLUSION: Aortic-valve morphology influenced the assessment of anatomical AVA in patients with AS, and 3D TEE is useful for assessing anatomical AVA regardless of aortic-valve morphology.