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Evaluation of the aortic and mitral valves with cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

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Abstract

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) produces high-quality anatomical images of the cardiac valves and associated structures. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides images of valve morphology, and allows quantitative evaluation of valvular dysfunction and determination of the impact of valvular lesions on cardiovascular structures. Recent studies have demonstrated that cardiac CT and MRI are important adjuncts to echocardiography for the evaluation of aortic and mitral valvular heart diseases (VHDs). Radiologists should be aware of the technical aspects of cardiac CT and MRI that allow comprehensive assessment of aortic and mitral VHDs, as well as the typical imaging features of common and important aortic and mitral VHDs on cardiac CT and MRI.

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Abbreviations

AF:

Atrial fibrillation

AR:

Aortic regurgitation

AS:

Aortic stenosis

AVA:

Aortic valve area

BAV:

Bicuspid aortic valve

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

CT:

Computed tomography

D:

Dimensional

ECG:

Electrocardiography

IE:

Infective endocarditis

LV:

Left ventricular

MDCT:

Multidetector computed tomography

MR:

Mitral regurgitation

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MS:

Mitral stenosis

MVA:

Mitral valve area

RF:

Regurgitant fraction

ROA:

Regurgitant orifice area

SSFP:

Steady-state free precession

TAV:

Tricuspid aortic valve

TTE:

Transthoracic echocardiography

VHD:

Valvular heart disease

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by KonKuk University in 2012.

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Correspondence to Hweung Kon Hwang.

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Ko, S.M., Song, M.G. & Hwang, H.K. Evaluation of the aortic and mitral valves with cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28 (Suppl 2), 109–127 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-012-0144-z

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