title: Does the mitral annulus shrink or enlarge during systole? A real-time 3D echocardiography study.
abstract: This study was conducted to explore the geometrical changes of the mitral annulus during systole. The 3D shape of the mitral annulus was reconstructed in 13 normal subjects who had normal structure of the mitral apparatus using real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) and 3D computer software. The two orthogonal (antero-posterior and commissure-commissure) dimensions, the areas (2D projected and 3D surface) and the non-planarity of the mitral annulus were estimated during early, mid and late systole. We demonstrated that the MA had a "saddle shape" appearance and it consistently enlarged mainly in the antero-posterior direction from early to late systole with lessening of its non-planarity, as was determined by 3D reconstruction using RT3DE and 3D computer software.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Min-Jae
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Dae-Hyeok
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keum-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Woo-Hyung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012984:Software; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*