Role of multi-modality imaging in the assessment of valvular heart disease

Editorials
Awais Sheikh
20/02/2024

Take home messages

  • Assessment of valvular heart disease can be challenging, due to a number of different factors.
  • CT, MRI and nuclear imaging add valuable complimentary information for a range of indications.
  • There are exciting opportunities to use imaging information and biomarkers to identify those patients at risk of progression and/or suitability for earlier intervention.
Introduction

Trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) has traditionally been the bedrock for identification, quantification and monitoring of valvular disease (1, 2). Obtaining the minimum data set provides valuable information about valvular anatomy, presence and severity of pathology and subsequent impact on cardiac chambers and great vessels (3).

However, there are certain instances where further information is required, whether due to sub-optimal image quality, eccentric disease or conflicting data. This editorial aims to provide a brief overview into the value of some of the available imaging modalities which is summarised in Figure 1.