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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
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Current methods to assess mitral annular calcification and its risk factors
Divya Birudaraju1, Lavanya Cherukuri1, Shruthi Pranesh2
1Division Of Cardiology, Lundquist Institute For Biomedical Innovation At Harbor-UCLA, Torrance, California, USA.
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|August 5, 2021
Summary
Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a degenerative valve process. Atherosclerosis and calcium metabolism contribute to MAC, which is diagnosed primarily with echocardiography and CT.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Valvular Heart Disease
Background:
- Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a chronic, degenerative process affecting the mitral valve's fibrous base.
- While age-related degeneration was presumed, atherosclerosis and abnormal calcium/phosphorus metabolism are implicated in MAC development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical definition, pathophysiology, and diagnostic implications of mitral annulus calcification (MAC).
Main Methods:
- Literature review summarizing current understanding of MAC.
- Analysis of diagnostic modalities for MAC identification and characterization.
Main Results:
- Echocardiography is the primary imaging tool for MAC and associated mitral valve disease.
- Computed tomography (CT) serves as a complementary modality for MAC assessment, especially pre-surgery.
- MAC is typically asymptomatic, often an incidental finding with characteristic imaging features.
Conclusions:
- Limited data exists on MAC natural history and progression; further research on risk factors is needed.
- Accurate characterization of MAC using echocardiography and CT is crucial for patient management.
- Understanding MAC variants is important to differentiate from other cardiac lesions.
Keywords:
Mitral annulus calcification (mac)chronic kidney disease (ckd)computed tomography (ct)echocardiographyMore Related Videos
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