title: Sixty-four slice CT evaluation of aortic stenosis using planimetry of the aortic valve area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to evaluate planimetry of the aortic valve area with 64-slice CT in comparison with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with aortic stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with aortic valve disease referred for coronary 64-slice CT angiography were examined. Planimetry of the aortic valve area with 64-slice CT was compared with TTE using the Doppler continuity equation for calculation of the aortic valve area and with planimetric measurement of the aortic valve area using TEE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Planimetry of the aortic valve area with CT (1.11 +/- 0.42 cm2) showed a good correlation with TTE (1.05 +/- 0.42 cm2) (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) in 32 patients and a good correlation with TEE (1.41 +/- 1.61 cm2) (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001) in 10 patients. The mean and maximum transvalvular pressure gradients were correlated with the aortic valve area as measured with CT (r = -0.68, p = 0.0001; and r = -0.67, p = 0.0001, respectively). Beta-blockers were not given (mean heart rate, 62.5 +/- 10.7 beats per minute).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT allows accurate planimetry of the aortic valve area in patients with aortic stenosis. In patients referred for 64-slice CT coronary angiography, concomitant aortic stenosis can be identified and evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Radiology II, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. gudrun.feuchtner@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Gudrun M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Feuchtner
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schachner
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velik-Salchner
authors.forename: Otmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pachinger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dichtl
mesh_terms: D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*