title: Calcification of the mitral annulus.
abstract: Successful valve replacement has been achieved within the first three years in two patients who had extensive calcification of the mitral valve annulus. This condition, although commonly reported in pathology and autopsy studies, has been rare in our clinical experience. Surgical management does not appear to us to have been reported previously. It was regarded in our earlier experience as a deterrent to mitral valve surgery. Certain technical factors which contributed to success are emphasized in the two cases described in this report.
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography