title: Central aortic valve coaptation area during diastole as seen by 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
abstract: As multiple new procedures now require better visualization of the aortic valve, we sought to better define the central aortic valve coaptation area seen during diastole on multi-detector row cardiac computed tomography (MDCT). 64-MDCT images of 384 symptomatic consecutive patients referred for coronary artery disease evaluation were included in the study. Planimetric measurements of this area were performed on cross-sectional views of the aortic valve at 75% phase of the cardiac cycle. Planimetric measurement of central regurgitation orifice area (ROA) seen in patients with aortic regurgitation and Hounsfield units of the central aortic valve coaptation area were performed. Mean area of the central aortic valve coaptation area was 5.34 ± 5.19 mm(2) and Hounsfield units in this area were 123.69 ± 31.31 HU. The aortic valve coaptation area (mm(2)) measurement in patients without AR was: 4.90 ± 0.17 and in patients with AR: 10.53 ± 0.26 (P ≤ 0.05). On Bland-Altman analysis a very good correlation between central aortic valve coaptation area and central ROA was found (r = 0.80, P ≤ 0.001). Central aortic valve coaptation area is a central area present at the coaptation of nodules of arantius of aortic cusps during diastole; it is incompetent and increased in size in patients with aortic regurgitation.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zeb
authors.forename: Song Shou
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yasmin S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hamirani
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.forename: Jigar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadakia
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elamir
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Budoff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002140:California; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed