Quantification of valvular aortic stenosis by magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
Assessing the aortic valvular orifice is important in judging the severity of aortic stenosis. Magnetic resonance imaging visualizes in-plane valvular motion. We studied the value of magnetic resonance planimetry of the aortic valve orifice.


METHODS
We used breath-hold gradient echocardiographic sequences on a clinical magnetic resonance system (1.5 T) and studied 25 patients with symptomatic valvular aortic stenosis. We performed a planimetry of the valvular orifice in systolic images of the valvular plane. The results were compared with echocardiography (continuity equation) and cardiac catheterization (Gorlin formula).


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance planimetry was feasible in all patients, and the image quality was invariably adequate. The magnetic resonance imaging results correlated well with the data calculated from catheterization and less robustly with the echocardiographic results. The 3 methods were similar in terms of leading to clinical decisions.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that magnetic resonance flow planimetry of the aortic valve orifice offers a simple, reliable, fast, and safe method to noninvasively quantify aortic stenosis.
Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Charité Campus Buch, Medizinische Fakultaet der Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin, Germany. friedrich@fvk-berlin.de
Matthias G
MG
Friedrich
Jeanette
J
Schulz-Menger
Thomas
T
Poetsch
Bernhard
B
Pilz
Frank
F
Uhlich
Rainer
R
Dietz
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged