Is there a significant difference between mitral annulus calcification and mitral valve leaflet calcification.
Yes.
Describe the salient differences between the two.
When the leaflets of the valve are calcified, the function of the valve is impeded resulting in valvular heart disease, e.g. mitral valve sclerosis or stenosis. The annulus of the valve is covered with normal endothelium and does not result in valvular heart disease. Conduction can be altered with annulus calcification and there is an association with coronary artery disease.
Heavy nodular calcification (yellow) is noted projecting over the cardiac silhouette.
Approximate locations of the 4 heart valves are noted on the second image:
- aortic valve (red)
- pulmonary valve (blue)
- mitral valve (yellow)
- tricuspid valve (orange)