[Diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis involving three valves by echocardiography (author's transl)].

Endocarditis was suspected in a 66-year-old man who had enterococcal septicaemia. Thrombotic involvement of the mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves by the endocarditis was demonstrated by echocardiography, the diagnosis and localisation of the endocarditic deposits being confirmed at necropsy, the patient's condition making operative treatment impossible. The characteristic echocardiographic finding was of abnormal echos from the valves with largely normal valve movements. Atrial myxoma and artefacts had to be considered in the differential diagnosis.