Background: Mitral annular (MA) dimensions obtained by traditional two-dimensional echocardiography are poorly standardized and do not adhere to anatomic principles. Correct anatomic imaging planes of the anterior-posterior (AP) and commissure-commissure (CC) axes of the mitral annulus were compared with the traditional method and correlated with cardiac computed tomography (CT).
Methods: Seventeen subjects underwent traditional and correct anatomic imaging planes echocardiography and cardiac CT. The traditional method was obtained in the parasternal long-axis and apical 4-chamber views. Correct anatomic imaging planes were obtained in the apical long-axis view. The traditional and correct anatomic images planes methods were correlated with cardiac CT.
Results: The traditional method of MA measurement correlated poorly with cardiac CT (AP axis: r = 0.13; CC axis: r = 0.02). The correct anatomic imaging planes method of MA measurement correlated very well with cardiac CT (AP axis: r = 0.96; CC axis: r = 0.91) (P < .05).
Conclusions: The correct anatomic imaging planes method provides accurate measurement of the AP and CC axes of the mitral annulus by adhering to geometric and anatomic principles.