Imperforate tricuspid valve

What it means

A tricuspid valve that has failed to open.

Imperforate valve is distinct from atretic valve. The hallmark of an imperforate valve is that it provides potential communication between an atrium and a ventricle. It exists as fused valve leaflets usually possessing their own hypoplastic tensor apparatus. The presence of an imperforate valve may have important surgical implications. Imperforate valve is in contrast to atretic valve with an absent atrioventricular connection. The cornerstone of the diagnosis of an imperformate valve is the identification of a thin mobile membrane between an atrium and a ventrile and the recognition of the tensor apparatus of the valve. In most cases the tensor apparatusis hypoplastic and it maynot be possible to delineate it by echocardiography.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Unopened tricuspid valve