TITLE:
Multi Modality Imaging for Cardiac Masses Can Avoid Unnecessary Surgical Intervention: A Case Report of Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus
AUTHORS:
Karam Alzuhairi, Tomas Zaremba, Eva Korup
KEYWORDS:
Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus; Cardiac Tumors; Cardiac MR
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
28,
2013
ABSTRACT: Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC) is a degenerative process involving the fibrous ring of the mitral valve. Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus (CCMA) is a rare variant of MAC. This condition is benign and usually needs no treatment. This is a case report of a 67-year-old woman with non-specific symptoms in whom a cardiac tumor was suspected by transthoracic Echocardiography. The use of multi-modality imaging strategy with transesophageal Echocardiography and cardiac MR scanning revealed however the diagnosis of CCMA and spared the patient an unnecessary operation.