[False chorda tendinea of the left ventricle: possibility of diagnosis with echocardiography].

False tendons are fibrous strings that originate from the ventricular endocardium, but do not insert into the atrioventricular valve leaflets. Until recently these structures were recognized only at autopsy: recent reports have described some echocardiographic features of false tendons. In this paper we report our experience about false tendons in the left ventricle and some considerations on the echocardiographic differential diagnosis of these structures. In 4 of 1500 consecutive patients evaluated by M-mode and bidimensional echocardiography we have observed, throughout the cardiac cycle, an anomalous string-like linear echo stretched from the upper part of the interventricular septum to the apex (two cases) or to the lateral wall of the left ventricle (two cases). Associated cardiovascular diseases included mitral valve prolapse in two cases, systemic arterial hypertension in two cases and disturbances of cardiac rhythm in one case. Abnormal echoes in the left ventricular outflow tract are a common finding in several disorders such as discrete subaortic stenosis and aortic valve prolapse or vegetations. Furthermore a false tendon running parallel to the interventricular septum can mimick septal hypertrophy. Bidimensional echocardiographic examination, can identify these different conditions. Further studies will be necessary to firmly establish the diagnostic criteria of these structures at echocardiography.