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 – Named after Etienne-Louis Arthur Fallot (1850-1911), who was a French physician and received his medical doctorate from the University of Marseille in 1867. He described this tetrad in 1888 in an article entitled “Contribution à l’anatomie pathologique de la maladie bleue (cyanose cardiaque)” using previous observations from the work of Dutch anatomist Neils Stenson (1638-1686). Unfortunately, Fallot’s work garnered little contemporary acclaim and it wasn’t until Dr. Paul Dudley White (of WPW fame) translated and republished Fallot’s work in his landmark textbook “Heart Disease” in 1931.
References
- Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
- Bartolucci S, Forbis P. Stedman’s Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD; LWW. 2005.
- Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012). Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software]. Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com.
- Whonamedit – dictionary of medical eponyms. http://www.whonamedit.com
- Up To Date. www.uptodate.com
- Starr JP. Tetralogy of fallot: yesterday and today. World journal of surgery. 2010; 34(4):658-68. [pubmed]
- E. L. A. Fallot. Contribution à l’anatomie pathologique de la maladie bleue (cyanose cardiaque). Marseille médical, 1888;25: 77-93.
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