Tetralogy of Fallot

Other Known Aliases – Fallot’s tetrad, Fallot’s syndrome, Steno-Fallot tetralogy

Definition – Congenital cyanotic heart disease due to ventriculo-septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and overiding aorta.

Clinical Significance – This is one of the six congenital cyanotic heart defects and is also the most common.  Read/listen to an amazing review of “Congenital Cyanotic Heart Diseases” here.

History – The classic description of the tetrad was actually first described in 1672 by the Danish physician and anatomist, Neils Stenson (1638-1686).  The namesake of this condition is Etienne-Louis Arthur Fallot (1850-1911), who was a French physician.  He described the tetrad in 1888 using previous observations and building from the work of Stenson, but garned little contemporary appraise.  It wasn’t until 1931 when Fallot’s work was rekindled and translated by Dr. Paul Dudley White.

References

1. Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA.  Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed.  New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
2. Bartolucci S, Forbis P.  Stedman’s Medical Eponyms.  2nd ed.  Baltimore, MD; LWW.  2005.
3. Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012).  Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software].  Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com.
4. Whonamedit – dictionary of medical eponyms. http://www.whonamedit.com/. Accessed March 7, 2017.
5. E. L. A. Fallot. Contribution à l’anatomie pathologique de la maladie bleue (cyanose cardiaque). Marseille médical, 1888;25: 77-93.