[Transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac and paracardiac tumors. A multicenter study].

A multicentre study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic value of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in tumours of the heart and pericardium. Forty-five cases were recensed: 24 myxomas, 1 fibroma, 1 hydatid cyst, 2 lymphomas, 3 sarcomas, 1 pleuropericardial cyst, 1 branchogenic cyst and 12 cardiac metastases. The diagnosis was made in all 45 cases by TOE but only in 35 cases by conventional transthoracic echocardiography which failed to recognise 2 myxomas, 1 hydatid cyst, 1 sarcoma, 2 paracardiac cysts and 4 cardiac metastases.

[Stenoses of the supra-aortic trunks associated with aortic supravalvular stenosis in a 3-year-old girl. Long-term surgical result].

Supravalvular aortic stenosis may be associated with arterial lesions. This condition is rare and its natural history is not well known. The authors report the case of a child operated in 1981 for supravalvular aortic stenosis and stenoses of the supraaortic vessels.

[Lipomatous septal hypertrophy. Apropos of 3 cases].

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the inter-atrial septum is characterised by fatty accumulation in the inter-atrial septum. Long unrecognised, it has been discovered anew by virtue of the use of transesophageal echocardiography. The authors report three cases, including one presenting as acute ischemia of the right lower limb.

[Value of the methylergometrin maleate test in recurrent cardio-circulatory arrests].

A 56-year-old man, with no particular past history, sustained two cardio-circulatory arrests preceded by constrictive chest pain. Coronary arteriography was normal during etiological investigations. The methylergometrine maleate (Méthergin (tm)) test enabled the diagnosis of severe spastic angina and guided appropriate management of this patient.