The role of computed tomography in the differential diagnosis of an intracardiac mass of the mitral valve: a case series

The differential diagnosis of an echocardiographically detected intracardiac mass in the mitral annulus can be challenging and usually requires a multimodal approach. This type of lesion is very often associated with subvalvular calcification of the mitral valve. The rare, caseous, variant is the most difficult to diagnose. This case series highlights the clinical significance of computed tomography in detecting and characterizing subvalvular mitral annular calcification when other modalities, particularly echocardiography, are inconclusive. The aim of this article was to raise awareness among specialists of the classic signs of caseous subvalvular calcification of the mitral annulus when visualized with different modalities. Special attention is also given to providing a differential diagnostic series that identifies features that differentiate subvalvular calcification of the mitral annulus from other conditions at this site. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these mitral valve lesions in order to predict possible associated complications and plan a treatment strategy that may help avoid unnecessary surgical procedures in some cases.