Echocardiographic oscillating flap in aortic root dissecting aneurysm.

A patient had a history, physical findings, and chest x-ray film suggesting type I aortic dissection. This diagnosis could not be confirmed angiographically. Echocardiographic studies predicted both the presence of dissection and the anatomic findings at surgery. A regularly oscillating echo corresponding to the intimal flap was found in the false lumen. This is suggested as a new echocardiographic finding in dissecting aneurysm.