Review Article

Imaging of Cardiac Valves by Computed Tomography

Figure 1

(a) 3-D VRT image of the heart by computed tomography. The coronary arteries (LAD—left anterior descending—in the front) are shown. Cardiac valve evaluation from same CT data set is possible. (see pulmonary valve in the front). (b) 3-D image of the aortic valve. Severe calcification (white color) of the aortic valve are pathognomonic for degenerative aortic stenosis (here shown in 3-chamber view). Further, quantification and characterization of aortic valve and annulus calcium predict complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) such as postsurgery paravalvular regurgitation or annulus rupture during stent expansion.
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