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Malignant melanoma often involves the heart in patients with advanced tumor disease but isolated cardiac metastasis is rare. We describe successful removal of isolated metastasis in the right ventricular outflow tract of a 64-year-old woman with exertional dyspnea and prior history of melanoma. She remains asymptomatic for 3 years after surgery while median survival is about 3 months after diagnosis without treatment. This report should promote early surgery in order to relieve symptoms and improve survival. < Learning objective: Metastatic melanoma has an ominous prognosis, particularly in case of widespread disease and cardiac localization. When isolated metastasis of the heart is present the optimal treatment remains controversial, either chemotherapy, surgery, or both. As shown in this case, long-term favorable outcomes can be obtained when isolated surgery of obstructive cardiac metastasis is performed, even incomplete.>.

Emerging applications of neuroimaging outside medicine and science have received intense public exposure through the media. Media misrepresentations can create a gulf between public and scientific understanding of the capabilities of neuroimaging and raise false expectations. To determine the extent of this effect and determine public opinions on acceptable uses and the need for regulation, we designed an electronic survey to obtain anonymous opinions from as wide a range of members of the public and neuroimaging experts as possible. The surveys ran from 1(st) June to 30 September 2010, asked 10 and 21 questions, respectively, about uses of neuroimaging outside traditional medical diagnosis, data storage, science communication and potential methods of regulation. We analysed the responses using descriptive statistics; 660 individuals responded to the public and 303 individuals responded to the expert survey. We found evidence of public skepticism about the use of neuroimaging for applications such as lie detection or to determine consumer preferences and considerable disquiet about use by employers or government and about how their data would be stored and used. While also somewhat skeptical about new applications of neuroimaging, experts grossly underestimated how often neuroimaging had been used as evidence in court. Although both the public and the experts rated highly the importance of a better informed public in limiting the inappropriate uses to which neuroimaging might be put, opinions differed on the need for, and mechanism of, actual regulation. Neuroscientists recognized the risks of inaccurate reporting of neuroimaging capabilities in the media but showed little motivation to engage with the public. The present study also emphasizes the need for better frameworks for scientific engagement with media and public education.

Medium-term results of valve replacement with a pericardial bioprosthesis were analysed in 141 patients receiving an Ionescu-Shiley aortic prosthesis and in 67 patients receiving a Mitroflow aortic (42), mitral (21) or double mitro-aortic (4) bioprostheses. There were 8 deaths in the operative (5.7%) and medium term (56 months) follow-up periods in the Ionescu group and a cumulative survival of 625 patient-years. There were 16 late deaths, 8 of cardiac origin. The 8 year survival and good functional results rates were 71% and 53% respectively. The linear rates of thrombo-embolism, endocarditis, reoperation, valvular dysfunction and regurgitation were 3.5, 1.1, 2.6, 2.7 and 6.1% patient-years. The corresponding figures in the Mitroflow bioprostheses were 0.5, 1.0, 3.1, 3.1 and 5.6% patient-years, but the average follow-up was shorter (36 months) with a cumulative survival of 195 patient-years. These results underline the frequency of primary valve dysfunction the mechanisms of which are: early tear in areas of high mechanical stress and late calcification. However, the hemodynamic profiles of this type of prosthesis are better than those of porcine bioprostheses which make them a valuable alternative in elderly patients operated for calcific aortic stenosis with a small aortic ring.

Doppler echocardiography is currently the method of choice for diagnosing and determining the mechanism and etiology of valvular regurgitation. The recent introduction of transesophageal echo coupled with color Doppler has increased the value of these ultrasonic methods. The analysis of the valvular lesion should be particularly precise and accurate in severe mitral insufficiency because of the possibility of surgical valvuloplasty, the indications of which are now much broader than was the case at the beginning of the nineteen eighties.

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of preoperative transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography compared with the surgical findings in pure or dominant severe mitral regurgitation with respect to: the evaluation of the lesions, mechanism and etiology; the provision of the type of surgery (valve replacement or reconstruction); One hundred and fifty patients were divided into two groups: Group I (N = 120) in which preoperative assessment included transthoracic echo-Doppler coupled with color Doppler in the last 32 patients; Group II (N = 30) operated recently who underwent both transesophageal and transthoracic echo-Doppler examination. In Group I, the sensitivity of transthoracic echo in the evaluation of the etiological was 86% overall [100% in rheumatic valve disease (N = 28), 86% in degenerative or dystrophic valves (N = 72), 44% in endocarditis (N = 9), 87% in ischaemic dysfunction (N = 8)]. The echo evaluation of the mechanism of the regurgitation was also reliable with the exception of ruptured chordae in which direct visualisation of the rupture was only possible in 19 of the 64 cases (30%). The type of surgery predicted by echo was practiced in 87% of cases.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was introduced recently in France. The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic value of this technique after 8 months' use in our cardiology department. A total of 532 TEE studies were carried out between April and December 1988 in 396 patients (average age 54 years, range 17 to 89 years) at Tenon Hospital. The failure rate was 1.8 per cent (N = 10), over half of which occurred at the beginning of the operator's experience. TEE was particularly valuable compared with the standard transthoracic approach in the following instances: the investigation of mitral stenosis, especially before percutaneous valvuloplasty (N = 75). A left atrial thrombus was demonstrated in 5 cases by TEE vs none by standard echocardiography. There was also a much higher diagnostic sensitivity for small interatrial shunts (40 vs 6) resulting from transseptal catheterisation. In the preoperative investigation of severe mitral regurgitation (N = 29). The etiology was accurately diagnosed in 29 vs 26 cases, and the mechanism of the regurgitation was correctly classified especially in cases of ruptured chordae (15 vs 6 cases). In endocarditis (N = 26) by the visualisation of abscess of the aortic ring (7 vs 1) and vegetations (19 vs 8). In prosthetic valve dysfunction (N = 65) by the demonstration of primary degeneration of bioprostheses (7 vs 4), perivalvular leaks (10 vs 4) and non-occlusive thrombi of mechanical prostheses (3 vs 0). In cases of intracardiac tumours, dissection of the thoracic aorta and atrial septal defects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The echocardiographic appearances of a patient with a rare congenital malformation, interatrial septal aneurysm (IASA) associated with a hemodynamically significant left-to-right shunt, are described. A 52 year old man with Noonan's syndrome was admitted to hospital for atrial flutter with right heart failure, which, on investigation, led to the diagnosis of a rare type of atrial septal defect; 2D echocardiography showed an isolated aneurysm of the interatrial septum; cardiac catheterisation demonstrated a significant left-to-right (5 volumes of oxygen per 100 ml). The patient underwent surgery which confirmed the presence of a multiperforated aneurysm of the interatrial septum in the region of the fossa ovalis. This abnormality was resected and the interatrial defect closed; there were no postoperative complications and the cardiomegaly regressed significantly. The authors underline the M mode and 2D appearances of this condition; although it may be difficult on M mode examination to distinguish an IASA from other conditions giving rise to mobile intra-right atrial echos, such as Chiari's malformation, tricuspid valve vegetations, intraatrial tumour or thrombus or Eustachian valve, 2D examination using different incidences and contrast injections generally confirms the diagnosis. Surgery is often necessary after the detection of this echocardiographic abnormality: the surgical indications are described.

An unusual case of insulinoma in a 51-year-old man demonstrates the difficulties in diagnosing and treating hypoglycemia. From the many laboratory tests and procedures performed, the only findings typical of insulinoma were inappropriate values of plasma immunoreactive insulin in relation to the corresponding values of blood glucose, and these were sporadic. A small beta-cell adenoma in the pancreatic head was the cause of the hypoglycemia.

34 patients aged between 17 and 62 years underwent triple valve replacement, 14 of whom exclusively with Starr-Edwards prosthesis; 25 patients were operated at Stage III and 4 at Stage IV of the NYHA classification; the operative mortality was 14%, the late mortality 21%. The actuarial survival curve shows 66% survival at 5 years; in all, 21 good results were obtained with a follow-up ranging from 3 months to 11 years (average 41 months). A notable late complication specific to these patients was dysfunction of the tricuspid prosthesis; a gradient across the tricuspid prosthesis was observed in 14 postoperative catheter studies; one of these patients had to be reoperated for thrombosis of a Starr-Edwards tricuspid prosthesis. Analysis of the results of this series suggests that surgery is beneficial, especially when the very precarious preoperative state of these patients is taken into consideration.

A false aneurysm of the left ventricle was successfully operated upon in a patient who had developed postoperative purulent pericarditis after resection of a post-infarction ventricular aneurysm 5 months previously. The authors describe the clinical, anatomical, radiological, and ultrasonographic characteristics of false aneurysms, which occur more frequently after myocardial infarction than postoperatively. Other, more rare causes are described, as well as recent data reported in published literature. The role of infection in certain postoperative forms is emphasized. Apart from angiography, non-invasive methods such as bidimensional ultrasonography and angioscintigraphy play an important role in establishing the diagnosis, avoiding explorations which are not without risk in debilitated patients. The frequency with which rupture of false aneurysms is observed, in contrast with true aneurysms, entails early recognition and operation on a regular basis, even when signs of intolerance are absent.

Twenty two cases of recurrent perivalvular leaks in aortic valve prostheses were reviewed in a multicentre cooperative study. From 1963 to 1978, 22 patients, mean age 39 years, underwent aortic valve replacement; 18 patients had aortic regurgitation, 6 due to infective endocarditis, and 4 patients had calcific aortic stenosis. Eight Starr-Edwards, 6 Smeloff-Cutter, 2 Braunwald-Cutter, 3 Björk, 1 Lillehei-Kaster and 2 bioprostheses were inserted. All 22 patients had to be reoperated for perivalvular leaks due to active or previous infective endocarditis in 7 cases. The prostheses implanted (3 reinsertions, 19 valve replacements) were 10 Starr-Edwards, 4 Smeloff-Cutter, 5 Björk, 1 Lillehei-Kaster, 1 Magovern and 1 bioprosthesis. All 22 patients had further perivalvular leaks, 6 caused by infective endocarditis, and 15 patients underwent a third operation. The prostheses implanted this time (2 reinsertions, 13 valve replacements) were 4 Starr-Edwards, 3 Smeloff-Cutter, 7 Björk and 1 bioprosthesis. Four patients had a third perivalvular leak, and 2 patients a fourth perivalvular leak. The first and second episodes of perivalvular leak were detected early in over half the cases. They were associated with cardiac failure, angina and hemolysis in 20 to 45% of cases. The average period between the first and second operations, and the 2nd and 3rd operations were 15 months and 9 months respectively. Overall, 11 patients died (50%), 4 due to cardiac failure and 3 of sudden death; 3 patients have been lost to follow-up (14%), and there are 8 survivors (36%) with a mean follow-up period of 5 years. However, the mortality rate when the cause of perivalvular leak was infective, was 82%, and only 18% when the cause was mechanical. The factors which favour recurrent perivalvular leaks are infection (30% of cases) and technical difficulties related to the poor quality of the aortic ring (calcification, dystrophy or dilatation). The prevention of this complication depends on careful peroperative technique, the use of certain surgical bypass techniques, a constant battle against infection, and regular examination of operated patients.

A 38 year-old man, operated upon two years previously for combined mitral and tricuspid valve disease of rheumatic origin, presented with signs of a severe biological inflammatory syndrome, and a mild proliferative glomerulonephritis (normal complement with exclusively mesangial deposits of IgM, Clq, and C3 on immunofluorescence), which developed slowly over a period of 3 years in the absence of any fever. Blood cultures were always negative, and prolonged antibiotic therapy on two occasions had no effect on the clinical or biological picture. Mitral prosthesis replacement was necessary 6 months after the onset of the affection, a second leakage 16 months later leading to rapidly fatal heart failure. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of an endocarditis at the zone of insertion of the prosthesis. The slow progression of the disorder in this case, and the absence of fever, emphasize diagnostic difficulties of certain cases of endocarditis, due to low virulence germs, that progress under cover of a generalized disease of renal expression. The value of renal biopsy, which provided almost specific indications in the present case, is also stressed.

A 34 years old woman with a history of childhood rheumatic fever presented with a number of episodes of systemic embolism over a 10 years period attributed to mitral stenosis despite long-term anticoagulant therapy. All preoperative electrocardiograms showed sinus rhythm. After one episode of recurrent embolism (brain, limbs) requiring femoral embolectomy, she developed oligo-anuric renal failure and needed 21 days of hemodialysis. She made a full recovery. Several years later, she presented with chronic progressive renal failure. The diagnosis of left atrial myxoma was eventually made at echocardiography: surgical excision was successful. Periodic hemodialysis was started six months later. The authors use this case to illustrate unusual presentations of myxoma and above all their vascular complications; the possibility of embolic renal disease leading to advanced renal failure is discussed, a complication of left atrial myxoma which seems to be very rare.

Cardiovascular manifestations of Lobstein's disease are rare, probably unrecognized, and determining factors for the final prognosis, the most frequent lesion being aortic incompetence. The eleventh case to be reported with pathological findings in the literature is described. This complication is usually found in men, blood regurgitation being large in amount, symptomatic, and progressive. Its mechanism is related less to dilatation of the aorta and its ring than to valvular changes, they being frequently bicuspid and dysplasic. Histological findings, not however pathognomonic, are myxoid degeneration in the valves and parietal cystic necrosis in the aortic wall. Apart from the absence of an aneurysm and aortic dissection, macro- and microscopic lesions are similar to those observed in Marfan's syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta. Operative therapy was employed in all eleven cases, with three postoperative deaths and three later deaths. Certain complications arise from uncontrollable severe hemorrhage, which justifies the use of valve heterografts not requiring antivitamin K administration.