title: Application of ultrafast computed tomography for diagnosis of perivalvular abscesses. Surgical implications.
abstract: The presence of a perivalvular abscess is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality with valve replacement and can require extensive debridement and reconstructive procedures. An accurate noninvasive method for preoperative diagnosis may hasten operation and aid in preoperative and surgical management. Two cases are presented in which ultrafast computed tomography accurately identified perivalvular abscesses not detected on two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and guided operative intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bleiweis
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Milliken
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brundage
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*