Cardiologists, radiologists and surgeons share ‘landmark’ document on assessing prosthetic heart valves with CT

CT imaging showing structural valve deterioration. An example of structural valve deterioration that shows a biological prosthetic heart valve in the aortic position. There is severe calcification and thickening of the leaflets compatible with structural valve deterioration. 3D VRT (A) and in-plane reconstructions (B). Images and caption courtesy of Budde et al. and RSNA.

An example of structural valve deterioration that shows a biological prosthetic heart valve in the aortic position. There is severe calcification and thickening of the leaflets compatible with structural valve deterioration. 3D VRT (A) and in-plane reconstructions (B). Images and caption courtesy of Budde et al. and RSNA.

RSNA and several other industry societies have shared a new expert consensus document on the significant value of cardiac CT. Echo remains an effective first-line imaging option, the groups wrote, but CT can make a big impact as well.