title: Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus. A review of six cases.
abstract: Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare form of mitral annular calcification, whose etiology is not completely understood and which can lead to an erroneous diagnosis of intracardiac tumor. The authors describe the cases of six patients, five of them female, mean age 74.8 +/- 6.4 years (65-81). Four patients presented with heart failure, two with atrial fibrillation and five with hypertension. Round, echogenic images, 18-26 mm in their largest diameter with a central echolucent area, were identified by transthoracic echocardiography on the lateral and posterior segments of the mitral annulus. Severe mitral regurgitation was also found in four patients. Only three patients with severe mitral regurgitation and heart failure were operated on, and one patient refused surgical treatment. A caseous mass, similar to toothpaste, was obtained from the mitral annulus zone during surgery.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal. ritamarinf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rita Marín
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Luísa Moura
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galrinho
authors.forename: Ana Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Timóteo
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feliciano
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiarresga
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mamede
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banazol
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roquette
authors.forename: Rui Cruz
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve; D014463:Ultrasonography