Misleading echocardiographic diagnosis of a prosthetic heart valve vegetation due to the cavitation phenomenon

摘要

The cavitation phenomenon is caused by the local pressure depression that occurrs during the closure and/or opening of prosthetic valve leaflets. Occasionally, peculiar features of echocardiographic images generated by cavitation can simulate a mass or vegetation, and are a potential source of diagnostic error. A clinical case that illustrates this phenomenon is described.