Massive mitral annular calcification mimicking intracardiac mass: Multimodality approach to diagnosis

Fabio Caruso1, Luisa Ventura1, Dafne Viliani2

  • 1Radiololgy Department, Santa Maria Del Carmine Hospital, Viale Verona 4, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy.

Insights

Diagnosing cardiac masses can be difficult. Multimodality imaging confirmed a challenging cardiac mass was actually mitral annulus calcifications in a 78-year-old man.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cardiac masses require accurate differential diagnosis due to significant clinical implications.
  • Echocardiography is a primary tool for cardiac mass detection, but etiology can remain unclear.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old male presented with a cardiac mass of uncertain origin detected via echocardiography.
  • The mass appeared voluminous and its nature was initially indeterminate.

Findings:

  • A multimodality imaging approach, including cardiac magnetic resonance and computed tomography, was employed.
  • These advanced imaging techniques successfully elucidated the mass's composition.

Implications:

  • The cardiac mass was definitively identified as two large calcifications of the mitral annulus.
  • This case highlights the utility of advanced imaging in resolving complex cardiac mass diagnoses.

Related Concept Videos

Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction01:22

Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction

Mitral Valve Stenosis (MVS) is a heart condition where the mitral valve narrows, impeding blood circulation from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The etiology and pathophysiology of this condition are multifaceted, leading to a cascade of cardiovascular complications.Causes of Mitral Valve StenosisRheumatic Heart Disease: It is the main cause of mitral valve stenosis, particularly in developing nations. This condition arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory illness resulting from...
700
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction01:20

Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

Mitral regurgitation is characterized by the backward circulation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole, a phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. This abnormal flow occurs primarily due to the dysfunction of the mitral valve or its supporting structures, which include the mitral leaflets, chordae tendineae, annulus, and papillary muscles.Etiology and Mechanisms:Primary Mitral Regurgitation: This type arises from...
601
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction01:27

Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction

IntroductionThe mitral valve, one of the heart's four valves, regulates blood flow. These valves have flaps that open and close to direct blood properly through the heart and body. During each heartbeat, the flaps open for blood to pass through and seal shut to prevent backflow. Specifically, the mitral valve opens to allow blood flow from the heart's upper left chamber to the lower left chamber. It then closes securely as the lower left chamber contracts to pump blood to the body, preventing...
570
Nursing Diagnosis01:22

Nursing Diagnosis

Following assessment, a nursing diagnosis is the next step in the nursing process. It begins after the nurse has collected and recorded the patient data. The purpose of diagnosing is to identify how the client responds to actual or potential health processes, identify factors that bestow or that cause health problems, the etiologies, and identify resources or strengths the individual, group, or community can draw on to prevent or resolve problems.
The nursing diagnosis focuses on evidence-based...
4.2K
Atomic Mass01:52

Atomic Mass

Atoms — and the protons, neutrons, and electrons that compose them — are extremely small. For example, a carbon atom weighs less than 2 × 10−23 g. When describing the properties of tiny objects such as atoms, we use appropriately small units of measure, such as the atomic mass unit (amu). The amu was originally defined based on hydrogen, the lightest element, then later in terms of oxygen. Since 1961, it has been defined with regard to the most abundant isotope of carbon, atoms of which...
70.4K
Molar Mass01:54

Molar Mass

The identity of a substance is defined not only by the types of atoms or ions it contains but by the quantity of each type of atom or ion. For example, water, H2O, and hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, are alike in that their respective molecules are composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. However, because a hydrogen peroxide molecule contains two oxygen atoms, as opposed to the water molecule, which has only one, the two substances exhibit very different properties.
87.0K