Calcification of the tricuspid anulus diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography

An 84-year-old female who previously underwent repair of an atrial septal defect had evidence of increased reflectiveness of the posterior tricuspid anulus in the apical four-chamber view and the right ventricular two-chamber view. In addition, the inferior vena cava was dilated and during contrast echocardiography, contrast echoes appeared during systole suggesting tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid annular calcification was confirmed by fluoroscopic examination. Tricuspid annular calcification is extremely rare and in the present series occurred in 1 of 80 patients with mitral annular calcification. Lateral resolution echoes from a calcified aortic valve and echoes originating from a calcified right coronary artery have to be distinguished from tricuspid annular calcification.