Two-dimensional echocardiography in atrioventricular canal malformation: a diagnostic approach.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed in 20 children with various forms of atrio-ventricular canal malformation. Both sagittal and transverse cross-sections were evaluated. The most typical finding in all patients was the visualization of the cleft anterior mitral leaflet (AML) represented by a diastolic break of AML echoes in the sagittal cross-section. - In cases where the AML is attached to the interventricular septum, varying degrees of left ventricular outflow tract narrowing and elongation were observed. In the transverse cross-section mitral-tricuspid alignment could be observed at the level of the aortic root. The ventricular septal defect in complete AVC was visualized as an echo-free space between the common anterior leaflet and the interventricular septum.