Heart, Lung and Circulation
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 187-188, June 2006

Caseous Calcification of the Mitral Valve Ring

  • Constantin B. Marcu, MD

      Affiliations

    • Vrije University Medical Center, Department of Cardiology 6D 120, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +31 20 4442244; fax: +31 20 4442446.
    • ,
  • Andre E. Ghantous, MD

      Affiliations

    • Hospital of Saint Raphael–Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
    • ,
  • Edward K. Prokop, MD

      Affiliations

    • Hospital of Saint Raphael–Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

Received 15 June 2005; accepted 5 February 2006.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is found in 10% of patients older than 50 years of age, and represents deposition of calcium between the basal infero-lateral ventricular wall and the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Caseous calcification, formed from a mixture of calcium, cholesterol and fatty acids, is an uncommon variant found on echocardiography in 0.6% of patients with MAC. The characteristic echographic appearance is of a large echo-dense structure with echo-lucent center and smooth borders. Caseous MAC carries a benign prognosis despite its impressive appearance and should not be misdiagnosed as a more serious condition such as myocardial abscess or tumor.

Keywords: Calcification, Caseous, Mitral annulus

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PII: S1443-9506(06)00041-2

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2006.02.004

Heart, Lung and Circulation
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 187-188, June 2006

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