Radiology, Vol 153, 357-361, Copyright © 1984 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Aortic root abscess resulting from endocarditis: spectrum of angiographic findings

SW Miller and RE Dinsmore

Abscesses in the aortic root are a serious complication of infective endocarditis and require accurate diagnosis for antibiotic and surgical management. Nineteen cases of endocarditis of a native valve or prosthetic valve and adjacent abscess cavities were identified with angiography. Of 6 patients with endocarditis of a native valve, 5 had bicuspid aortic valves and all had severe aortic regurgitation. Of 13 patients with endocarditis of a prosthetic aortic valve, all had paravalvular regurgitation. Abscesses in the aortic root were saccular, ranged from 1 to 3 cm in diameter, and, depending on sinus of origin, extended beneath the main and right pulmonary arteries or into the interventricular septum or mitral anulus. Fistulas were detected into the mitral anulus in 8 patients, and into the right ventricle in 3 patients. No complications from the catheterization were recorded during the 48-hour follow-up.

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				N R A Clarke and J C Forfar Aortic root abscess presenting as unstable angina due to extrinsic compression of the left coronary artery Postgrad. Med. J., March 1, 2002; 78(917): 168 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]