title: Aortic valve calcification - a commonly observed but frequently ignored finding during CT scanning of the chest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the frequency and severity of Aortic valve calcification (AVC) in an unselected cohort of patients undergoing chest CT scanning and to assess the frequency with which AVC was being reported in the radiology reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consecutive CT scan images of the chest and the radiological reports (December 2009 to May 2010) were reviewed at the district general hospital (DGH). AVC on CT scan was visually graded on a scale ranging from 0 to IV (0 = no calcification, IV = severe calcification). Total of 416 (232 male; 184 female) CT chest scans [Contrast enhanced 302 (72%), unenhanced 114 (28%)] were reviewed. Mean age was 70.55 ± 11.48 years. AVC in CT scans was identified in 95 of the 416 patients (22.83%). AVC classification was as follows: Grade I: 60 (63.15%), Grade II: 22 (23.15%), Grade III: 9 (9.47%), Grade IV: 4 (4.21%). Only one CT report mentioned AVC. Only 31 of 95 AVC had Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). The interval time between CT scan and TTE was variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic valve calcification in CT chest scans is a common finding and studies have shown that it is strongly related to the presence and severity of aortic valve disease. As CT scans are considered as a valuable additional screening tool for detection of aortic stenosis, AVC should always be commented upon in the radiology reports. Furthermore, patients with at least Grade III and IV AVC should be sent for TTE.
authors.affiliation: Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sallomi
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Hitesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*