An isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft: a case report

• Published in: Cardiovascular ultrasound 2010-07, Vol.8 (1), p.26-26, Article 26
• Main Authors: Minardi, Giovanni, Leonetti, Stefania, Bernardi, Leda, Pulignano, Giovanni, Pino, Paolo Giuseppe, Boccardi, Lidia, Manzara, Carla, Musumeci, Francesco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Case Report; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography - methods; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Mitral Valve - abnormalities; Mitral Valve - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve - surgery; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - congenital; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - surgery
• ISSN: 1476-7120; 1476-7120
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-7120-8-26

The anterior mitral leaflet cleft is an unusual congenital lesion most often encountered in association with other congenital heart defects. The isolated anterior leaflet cleft is quite a rare anomaly and is usually cause of mitral valve regurgitation. The importance of the lesion is that it is often correctable. When feasible, cleft suture and, eventually, annuloplasty are preferable to valve replacement. Echocardiography is the first choice technique in the evaluation of mitral valve disease, providing useful information about valve anatomy and hemodynamic parameters. We present a case of an isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft producing moderate-severe mitral regurgitation correctly identified by echocardiography and successfully surgically corrected. Isolated cleft is a rare aberration, that has to be known in order to be diagnosed. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is the most useful non invasive technique for cleft diagnosis and to indicate the right surgical correction.