Abbott Specimen 8
Specimen Card Nomenclature
Supernumerary aortic cusp between anterior and left posterior segments with aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva above latter and perforation of left posterior segment. Syphilitic mesaortitis. Chronic aortic endocarditis with aortic insufficiency
International Classification of Diseases
Quadricuspid aortic valve
Atlas Illustration
Plate IX Figure 10
Donor
Dr. Finlay
Date
1907
Age
Thirty-one years
Description
Front view of the left ventricle shows the aortic valve to have four leaflets (short arrows show three intact leaflets; long arrows show the fourth cut in two parts during prosection). The sinus of Valsalva (V) above one of the leaflets is dilated.
Comment
Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are rare. They can occur as an isolated abnormality or in association with congenital bicuspid aortic valve or hereditary connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome. Although usually asymptomatic, rupture can lead to an aorto-ventricular shunt and heart failure.
Abbott seems to have thought that the four leaflets were fibrotic (“chronic endocarditis”), although the appearance suggests that this is mild. The left ventricle is markedly dilated, consistent with the aortic insufficiency she indicates in the card legend.
Atlas Illustration
Plate IX Figure 10
