title: Unusual tumor-like calcification of the mitral annulus: diagnosis and tissue characterization by ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Calcification of the mitral annulus is a common echocardiographic finding in the elderly, particularly in females. Calcium deposits are generally located in the posterior mitral ring, sometimes extending to the whole mitral annulus and involving the mitral valve apparatus. The present report refers to 2 patients with a very atypical mass-like calcification of the mitral annulus resembling a cardiac tumor. A detailed evaluation of the mass was obtained at transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography; the differential diagnosis with other intracardiac masses was aided by the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. To our knowledge there has been no prior report of such a lesion evaluated at cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Camposampiero General Hospital, Camposampiero (PD), Italy. fabio.deconti@libero.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Conti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corbetti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Conti
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zampiero
authors.forename: Piergiuseppe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piovesana
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography