A Form Fruste of Shone's Complex Diagnosed by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Shone's complex is a developmental complex of parachute mitral valve, supravalvular ring of the left atrium, subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. Little clinical experience has been accumulated since the original description by Shone et al. This may be due to underrecognition of the condition by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We describe a forme fruste of Shone's complex which is definitively diagnosed only after precise demonstration of the anatomy by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Demonstration of these abnormalities by TEE was of little clinical significance in our patient, but may be important in others in whom prior TTE has been suboptimal. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, March 1996)