title: Infective endocarditis on mitral annular calcification: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mitral annular calcification is a common finding in elderly patients; it is considered a benign cardiac abnormality but it can be a predisposing factor for infective endocarditis. Although described in numerous necropsy studies, endocarditis on mitral annular calcification has rarely been reported during life, and the frequency of sepsis can be underestimated because of difficult diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of infective endocarditis on mitral annulus calcification in a patient with acute coronary syndrome, diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transthoracic echocardiography may contribute to a correct diagnosis, showing typical findings of infective endocarditis on mitral annular calcification in order to administrate an adequate antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing endoscopic or invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Cardiodiagnostica non invasiva, Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minardi
authors.forename: Paolo G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sordi
authors.forename: Herribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pavaci
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manzara
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulignano
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Natale
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudio