OBJECTIVETo summarize the echocardiographic features of a wide spectrum of congenital mitral valve anomalies.

METHODSThe medical records, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization studies, and surgical reports were reviewed. The mitral valve anomalies evaluated in the study included parachute mitral valve, double orifice mitral valve, congenital mitral stenosis with 2 papillary muscles, anomalous papillary muscle rotation, and 3 commissures and papillary muscles in 15 cases. Surgeries were performed in 11 patients, and 1 patient underwent transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus.

RESULTSThe echocardiograms of 6 cases of parachute mitral valve were characterized by a hypoplastic mitral valve with short chordal attachments to a single posterior medial papillary muscle. The mitral valve demonstrated restricted motion. The double orifice mitral valve were featured by two separate mitral valve orifice, with each suborifice supported by its own tension apparatus in 4 patients. Asymmetric hypoplastic mitral valve stenosis with two papillary muscles was found in 1 patient with short and unbalanced chordal attachments to the anterior lateral major papillary muscle. Anomalous papillary muscle rotation was found in 1 patient. Mirtal anomaly with 3 major commissures and 3 papillary muscles was found in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONSEchocardiography offers clear demonstration of the mitral valve thickness and chordal attachments, and allows visualization of the position and the number of the papillary muscles and interpapillary spaces for evaluation of the mobility of the valve leaflets, therefore can be a valuable diagnostic modality for congenital mitral valve anomalies, especially congenital mitral stenosis.