Tricuspid Valve Prolapse: An Uncommon Pathology Revealed by TEE.

A 73-year-old male with a history of dilated cardiomyopathy and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to evaluate for endocarditis due to fever and gram-positive cocci in chains on blood cultures. TTE revealed a 3 × 8 mm mass on the ventricular aspect of the tricuspid valve ( Figure 1A ). Subsequent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed that the mass in question was actually myxomatous degeneration of the tricuspid valve (TV) and redundant chordae with significant valve prolapse. Figure 1B shows the prolapsing TV leaflets at the same level as the mitral valve. Figure 1C and 1D show the valve at the level of the annulus in early systole and then prolapsing 8 mm in mid-late systole, respectively. Tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) is uncommon, and one study of 118,000 patients reported an incidence of 0.3%.1 Since diagnostic parameters are not clearly defined, diagnosis is often determined subjectively. One objective criteria, > 2 mm atrial displacement of the TV leaflets in the TEE parasternal short-axis view, is noted to have high diagnostic accuracy. TVP is commonly associated with mitral valve prolapse. Patients with TVP have more severe tricuspid regurgitation and right-sided chamber enlargement compared to patients with no TVP. Due to the lack of significant tricuspid regurgitation in this case, the patient was reassured, and no further intervention was recommended.

Rapidly Progressive Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Right Atrium: a Rare Case Report.

We are going to present a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the right atrium, which is a very rare entity. The patient had a right atrial mass, which prolapsed through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, causing functional tricuspid valve stenosis. The tumor was completely resected and the patient had an uneventful postoperative period. Histopathological examination reported malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The patient presented to the emergency department five weeks after discharge with dyspnea and palpitation. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed recurrent right atrial tumor mass. His clinical status has worsened, with syncope and acute renal failure. On the repeated echocardiography, suspected tumor recurrence was observed in left atrium, which probably caused systemic embolization. Considering the aggressive nature of the tumor and systemic involvement, our Heart Council decided to provide palliative treatment by nonsurgical management. His status deteriorated for the next few days and the patient succumbed to a cardiac arrest on the 4th day.

Rapidly progressive malignant fibrous histiocytoma of right atrium: a rare case report

Abstract We are going to present a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the right atrium, which is a very rare entity. The patient had a right atrial mass, which prolapsed through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, causing functional tricuspid valve stenosis. The tumor was completely resected and the patient had an uneventful postoperative period. Histopathological examination reported malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The patient presented to the emergency department five weeks after discharge with dyspnea and palpitation. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed recurrent right atrial tumor mass. His clinical status has worsened, with syncope and acute renal failure. On the repeated echocardiography, suspected tumor recurrence was observed in left atrium, which probably caused systemic embolization. Considering the aggressive nature of the tumor and systemic involvement, our Heart Council decided to provide palliative treatment by nonsurgical management. His status deteriorated for the next few days and the patient succumbed to a cardiac arrest on the 4th day.

Live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of tricuspid valve pathology: incremental value over the two-dimensional technique.

Twenty-nine patients with different tricuspid valve (TV) pathologies were studied by both two-dimensional transthoracic (2DTTE) and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE). A major contribution of 3DTTE over 2DTTE was the en face visualization of all three leaflets of the TV in all patients. This allowed accurate assessment of TV orifice area in patients with TV stenosis and carcinoid disease. Loss of TV leaflet tissue, defects in TV leaflets and size of TV systolic non-coaptation could also be delineated and resulted in identifying the mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with Ebstein's anomaly and rheumatic heart disease. Prolapse of TV leaflets could also be well visualized and enabled us to develop a schema for systematic assessment of individual segment prolapse which could help in surgical planning. The exact sites of chordae rupture in patients with flail TV as well as right ventricular papillary muscle rupture could be well seen by 3DTTE. 3DTTE also permitted sectioning of various TV masses for more specific diagnosis of their nature. In addition, color Doppler 3DTTE provided an estimate of quantitative evaluation of TR severity, since the exact shape and size of the vena contracta could be accurately assessed. In conclusion, our preliminary experience with 3DTTE has demonstrated substantial incremental value over 2DTTE in the assessment of various TV pathologies.

Tricuspid valve prolapse associated with myxomatous degeneration.

Two surgical patients are presented with tricuspid valve prolapse. One had severe isolated prolapse of the posterior leaflet at its junction with the anterior leaflet accompanied by chordal elongation that was successfully repaired; the other had mild prolapse of all three leaflets with chordal elongation. Myxomatous degeneration of the tricuspid valve was the suspected underlying pathologic disorder in both patients and was histologically proven in the resected leaflet tissue of patient 1.

[A clinicopathologic study of morphologic tricuspid valve prolapse in the aged: comparison with color Doppler evaluation].

Similar morphologic abnormalities have often been observed in the leaflets of tricuspid valve in patients with mitral valve prolapse. In the present study, morphologic tricuspid valve prolapse was analyzed in 500 consecutive autopsies of the aged over 60 years (mean 78.5 yrs, 266 men, 234 women). Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of the color Doppler technique applied before death were assessed in 61 autopsy cases. The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of morphologic tricuspid valve prolapse was 22.2% at autopsy in 500 cases of the aged, however, tricuspid regurgitation had not clinically been detected in any of them. 2. The prolapse of 2- or 3-leaflets was common (78.5%). Among the 3 leaflets, the prolapse was more frequently observed in the anterior or posterior leaflet than in the septal leaflet. Combined tricuspid and mitral valve prolapses were observed in 22 cases (19.8%). 3. Among 61 cases examined by color Doppler echocardiography, autopsy showed that 16 cases had tricuspid valve prolapse and 14 cases tricuspid regurgitant flow signals (87.5%). 4. Regurgitant flow signals were also detected in 4 of 12 morphologically normal cases (33.3%). 5. In autopsy cases of the aged, generally, the incidence of morphologic tricuspid valve prolapse and tricuspid regurgitant flow signal were high, however, hemodynamically significant regurgitation due to prolapse was very rare.

[The pathology of mitral valve prolapse in dogs]. / Uber die Pathologie des Prolaps der Mitralklappe des Hundes.

The authors present investigations of the prolapse of the mitral valves in dogs. In 18 cases there were dogs with a prolapse, in 6 dogs there was a prolapse of the tricuspid valves, and in 3 cases a prolapse of both valves was observed. In all cases prolapse occurred together with endocardiosis of the valves or as a consequence of it.

Etiology of pure tricuspid regurgitation.

Of multiple etiologies for pure tricuspid regurgitation, the causes may be divided into those associated with anatomically abnormal and anatomically normal tricuspid valves. Conditions associated with anatomically abnormal valves include rheumatic, floppy, Ebstein's anomaly, carcinoid, infective endocarditis, papillary muscle dysfunction, and other rarer causes such as radiation, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and endomyocardial fibrosis. Conditions associated with anatomically normal tricuspid valves include multiple causes of cor pulmonale (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, primary pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary hypertension due to mitral stenosis). Of 45 necropsy patients with clinically documented pure tricuspid regurgitation, conditions producing pulmonary hypertension (cor pulmonale, mitral stenosis) were the most frequent etiology (47 percent), followed by floppy (16 percent), rheumatic (11 percent), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (9 percent), Ebstein's anomaly (7 percent), and miscellaneous conditions (10 percent). Of multiple causes of pure mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve anular circumference and leaflet area are useful measurements in establishing etiology: dilated anuli (greater than 12 cm) are associated with Ebstein's anomaly, floppy valves, and multiple causes of pulmonary hypertension. Increased leaflet areas are associated with floppy valves and Ebstein's anomaly. Anular insertion site separates floppy tricuspid valves from Ebstein's anomaly. Of 21 purely regurgitant operatively-excised tricuspid valves, the etiologies were: rheumatic (43 percent), "functional" due to pulmonary hypertension from mitral stenosis (38 percent), Ebstein's anomaly (9 percent), infective endocarditis (5 percent), and floppy (5 percent). In contrast to etiology of pure mitral regurgitation, rheumatic disease is the leading cause for operative excision of purely regurgitant tricuspid valves. Comparison of systolic pulmonary arterial pressures and tricuspid valve morphology disclosed that pulmonary arterial pressures greater than or equal to 55 mm Hg and tricuspid valve anuli greater than 12 cm were associated with anatomically normal tricuspid valves and that pulmonary arterial pressures less than or equal to 40 mm Hg and tricuspid anuli less than 12 cm were associated with anatomically abnormal tricuspid valves.

Tricuspid valve prolapse.

Tricuspid valve prolapse is an infrequent echocardiographic finding that is most commonly associated with mitral valve prolapse. When compared with patients exhibiting isolated prolapse of the mitral valve, patients with tricuspid valve prolapse are somewhat older individuals with a slightly higher frequency of neurologic symptoms, fatigue, weakness, supraventricular arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation) and skeletal deformities. Tricuspid valve prolapse may serve as a marker of more-diffuse connective tissue abnormalities, and its identification also should prompt an echocardiographic search for evidence of prolapse and regurgitation of the other heart valves.

Isolated prolapse of the tricuspid valve.

Tricuspid valve prolapse has remained a poorly defined entity. Some authors have stated that prolapse isolated to the tricuspid valve has not been documented. This report contains three cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse including the first pathologically confirmed case. A review of worldwide literature including all reported cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse is also presented. Although signs and symptoms are similar to those found with mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse may occasionally be differentiated by auscultation. The diagnostic criteria of tricuspid valve prolapse are thoroughly discussed for each of the presently available invasive and noninvasive techniques. Right heart catheterization can define such prolapse but is invasive and requires meticulous technique. Two-dimensional echocardiography supersedes M-mode because of the superior spatial evaluation of the tricuspid leaflets in relation to the right atrium and ventricle. Multiple views including a long-axis view of the right ventricular inflow are often required. This parasternal echocardiographic window is often the only one which permits adequate visualization of the posterior leaflet. The pathologic findings of tricuspid valve prolapse are similar to those of mitral valve prolapse. This report concludes with a description of associated conditions. Severe tricuspid regurgitation has not been noted with tricuspid valve prolapse in the absence of superimposed disease, yet much remains undefined concerning the clinical significance of this condition.

[Detection of aneurysms of the atrial septum using transesophageal echocardiography]. / Nachweis von Aneurysmen des Vorhofseptums mit Hilfe der transösophagealen Echokardiographie.

In 7/340 patients (2.1%) examined by transesophageal echocardiography, aneurysms of the intraatrial septum were observed. In no patient were additional shunts present. In 3/7 patients mitral valve and in 2/7 patients tricuspidal valve prolapse was found. Intraatrial septum aneurysms seem to have a higher frequency than that indicated by transthoracical echocardiography. The incidence observed by transesophageal echocardiography corresponds to the incidence of pathological findings.

Echocardiographic evaluation of normal and prolapsed tricuspid valve leaflets.

The tricuspid valve was examined by 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography in 14 patients with tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) and in 16 normal subjects. Individual leaflets were identified anatomically and for frequency of prolapse. Maximal and minimal anular sizes were measured. Multiple tomograms of the tricuspid anulus were recorded at 30 degrees intervals around the tricuspid anulus with the transducer placed at the right ventricular apex. Anuli were reconstructed from the 6 planes and corrected for body surface area. Three leaflets of the tricuspid valve could be anatomically identified in all patients. Prolapse of all 3 leaflets was observed in 6 patients, 2 leaflets in 5 and 1 in 3. Frequency of individual leaflet prolapse was 93% for the septal cusp, 86% for the anterior and 43% for the posterior. Maximal anular circumference and area in TVP were 7.9 +/- 0.6 and 8.9 +/- 1.3 cm2/m2, respectively--significantly larger than values in normal subjects (6.4 +/- 0.5 cm/m2 and 6.1 +/- 0.9 cm2/m2, respectively) (p less than 0.001). Percent reductions in circumference and area in TVP were 14 +/- 3 and 25 +/- 5%, respectively--significantly smaller values than in normal subjects (19 +/- 4 and 33 +/- 4%, respectively). Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was detected by contrast echocardiography in 7 of 14 patients with TVP. The severity of TR appeared to be minimal in 6 of the 7 patients, and was not associated with an increase in anular size. Thus, TVP is associated with anular dilatation irrespective of associated TR, probably as a primary pathologic characteristic.

Two dimensional echocardiography and the tricuspid valve. Leaflet definition and prolapse.

The tricuspid valve was studied in 143 subjects using two dimensional echocardiography. The groups studied were 40 normal subjects, 31 patients with mitral valve prolapse, 22 with clinically probable tricuspid valve prolapse, 20 with congestive cardiac failure, and 30 with miscellaneous cardiac conditions but no features of right heart disease. Using multiple views it was possible to record all three leaflets in 74.8% of cases and anterior and septal leaflets in 95%. Prolapse of the tricuspid valve was recognised in 13 patients: six (19.5%) of the group with mitral valve prolapse and seven (6%) of the remaining patients. Prolapse of all three leaflets was shown in one patient, anterior and septal prolapse in six patients, anterior and posterior in three patients, septal leaflet prolapse alone in two patients, and anterior alone in one patient. Two dimensional echocardiography allows definition of individual tricuspid leaflets and prolapse of any or all leaflets can be diagnosed. Tricuspid valve prolapse is commonly associated with prolapse of mitral valve leaflets but isolated cases are recognised.