Cardiac MRI report question

[Paleowoman]

I got the report from the cardiac MRI I had the other week. I’m not seeing the cardiac surgeon until I have a second MRI to compare with this one next year, though I’ll be seeing my cardiologist and having another echocardiogram later this year. I can’t begin to understand all of the MRI report. It says “Low-normal LV volumes with hyperdynamic systolic function - ejection fraction 84%” - I understand that more or less. Then it says “Prosthetic aortic valve with no significant stenosis - planimetry area 0.8 cm2”. That’s the bit I don’t get - an area of 0.8 cm2 seems stenotic to me. I checked out planimetry of aortic valve area and it seems to equate with area calculated on echocardiogram (in the previous echos the valve area is 0.9 - 1 cm2). Anyone any ideas ?

 

[mikeccolella]

Planimetry is dicey because the technician literally has to draw the measurements and use images to determine if the valve is fully open. This is not the most dependable method by any means. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC484867/

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Mike - I had it done by MRI, not by transoesophageal echo as in the study you linked to - though I have it with TEE and then it wasn't measured by planimetry. I've actually found in a study with MRI that it says planimetry with MRI can slighty over estimate the aortic valve area: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16189431 But that wasn't what I'm wondering about, I'm wondering how the radiologist can say a valve area of 0.8 is "not significant stenosis".