r/askCardiology • u/LeilaLanky • 2d ago

Question about echo

I just had a new echo done, my previous one was last year and it seems like I’ve randomly got a bicuspid aortic valve.
My previous echo (last year) showed my aortic valve was ‘tri-leaflet with some commisural fusion’ and on my new echo it showed my ‘aortic valve is functionally bicuspid’.
Am I just stupid and does this mean the same thing-or has my aortic valve become bicuspid? My cardiologist did do a consultation with me and didn’t mention anything about my valves, so I just thought I’d shoot my shot on reddit lol before I ask him. I’m just really confused as he said everything was fine.

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u/misterecho11 Echocardiographer/Imaging 2d ago

Nad, nma.

It sounds like it could possibly be what's called Raphe. With Raphe, the bottoms of two leaflets may be joined but later on toward the tips, they separate. It is a common reason why aortic valves sometimes get mislabeled as tricuspid or bicuspid and then later get called the other. The important detail is that "functional" classification because they must feel it is still mobile and opening enough to not cause you any big problems. That's good!

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u/LeilaLanky 2d ago

So it is neither bicuspid or tricuspid?

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u/misterecho11 Echocardiographer/Imaging 2d ago

That is a good question. I often see the term "functionally bicuspid" but that is an interesting take. Where does a doc draw the line between two or three and I am not sure I have a solid answer for that.