Echocardiographic recognition of the mitral valve-posterior aortic wall relationship.

Aortic-mitral valve discontinuity has previously been described in double outlet right ventricle, endocardial cushion defect, single ventricle, tetralogy of Fallot, and prolapse of the mitral valve. We are reporting two additional examples of aortic-mitral valve discontinuity including 15 cases of gross left ventricular dilation and a case of acute pneumococcal bacterial endocarditis with a large subannular erosion. While nonspecific, aortic-mitral valve discontinuity is a clinically important sign that should be sought with slow-M-mode scanning and strip chart recording.