Three dimensional volume quantification of aortic valve calcification using multislice computed tomography

Objective: To assess a new multislice computed tomography (CT) technique for three dimensional quantification of aortic valve calcification volume (3D AVCV) and to study the relation between stenosis and calcification of the aortic valve. Methods: 50 patients with echocardiographic calcification of the aortic valve underwent two separate ECG triggered multislice CT for quantification of 3D AVCV. The agreement between the two 3D AVCV scores was assessed and 3D AVCV was compared with echocardiographic markers of severity of aortic stenosis. Results: Overall the level of agreement between the two 3D AVCV scores was excellent (median interscan variability 7.9% (interquartile range 10.1); correlation coefficient, r=0.99; repeatability coefficient 237.8 mm3 (limits of agreement -393 to 559 mm(3))). However, the magnitude of the 3D AVCV did influence the interscan variability. The 3D AVCV correlated closely with the maximal predicted transvalvar gradient (r(2)=0.77) and aortic valve area (r(2)=0.73). Conclusions: Multislice CT provides a technique for quantifying 3D AVCV that has good reproducibility. There is a close non-linear relation between echocardiographic parameters of severity of valve stenosis and 3D AVCV scores.