Functional anatomy of normal mitral valve-left ventricular complex by real-time, three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background And Aim Of The Study: A detailed anatomic examination of the mitral valve (MV)-left ventricular (LV) complex (annulus, leaflets, chordae, papillary muscles, and ventricular wall) is needed for the accurate assessment of functional mitral regurgitation, and for planning patient-specific valve repair. In the past, normal values for the various components of the MV-LV complex have been derived from two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), but such measurements require unconventional image planes and allow no off-line adjustments. In addition, measurement of the LV volumes and dimensions of irregular structures (mitral annulus) is more accurate by using three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE).

Clinical significance of epicardial fat measured using cardiac multislice computed tomography.

Cardiac adiposity defined as increased epicardial adipose tissue and massive deposits of fat within the atrial septum (lipomatous hypertrophy) is seen in overweight persons and is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial arrhythmias, and increased risk of left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction. Unlike subcutaneous fat, epicardial fat is metabollically active and produces hormones, cytokines, and other vasoactive substances that work systemically or locally to alter vascular endothelial function and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of CAD. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of measuring epicardial fat volume (EFV) and identify its clinical correlates using (64-slice) multislice computed tomography (MSCT).