Accurate Measurement of Mitral Annular Dimensions by Echocardiography: Importance of Correctly Aligned Imaging Planes and Anatomic Landmarks
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Foster, Gary P.; Dunn, Adam K.; Abraham, Selwin; Ahmadi, Naser; Sarraf, Guilda
- Source
- Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. May 01, 2009 22(5):458-463
- Subject
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0894-7317
BACKGROUND:: Mitral annular (MA) dimensions obtained by traditional two-dimensional echocardiography are poorly standardized and do not adhere to anatomic principles. Correct anatomic imaging planes of the anterior-posterior (AP) and commissure-commissure (CC) axes of the mitral annulus were compared with the traditional method and correlated with cardiac computed tomography (CT). METHODS:: Seventeen subjects underwent traditional and correct anatomic imaging planes echocardiography and cardiac CT. The traditional method was obtained in the parasternal long-axis and apical 4-chamber views. Correct anatomic imaging planes were obtained in the apical long-axis view. The traditional and correct anatomic images planes methods were correlated with cardiac CT. RESULTS:: The traditional method of MA measurement correlated poorly with cardiac CT (AP axis: r = 0.13; CC axis: r = 0.02). The correct anatomic imaging planes method of MA measurement correlated very well with cardiac CT (AP axis: r = 0.96; CC axis: r = 0.91) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS:: The correct anatomic imaging planes method provides accurate measurement of the AP and CC axes of the mitral annulus by adhering to geometric and anatomic principles.