Congenital Aortic Valve Abnormalities
There are several congenital malformations of the aortic valve which
include unicuspid, bicuspid and quadricuspid valves. Bicuspid aortic
valve is the most common congenital abnormality of the aortic valve
affecting 2% of the general population. Although standard 2D
echocardiography can accurately delineate the aortic valve morphology in
most cases as tricuspid versus bicuspid, the diagnosis can be difficult
in calcified aortic valves and in cases of bicuspid aortic valve when a
raphe that mimics a commissure. The ability of 3D
echocardiography to visualize the aortic valve in en face view
from the aorta provides direct visualization of the aortic valve cusp
margins and commissures (Figure 2, Movie 1).The diagnostic accuracy of
3D TEE for bicuspid aortic valve has been validated against anatomic
examination of autopsy specimens.