Tricuspid valve imaging

Minerva Cardioangiol. 2018 Dec;66(6):680-690. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4725.18.04698-4. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

Abstract

The right ventricle and tricuspid valve (TV) have long been neglected by cardiologists. Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is nowadays the most common cause of severe TR and is emerging as a prognostic factor in many heart diseases. A multimodality imaging approach is fundamental for defining the pathophysiology of TR, using both two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography, as well as CT scan. In particular, 3D echocardiography can characterize TV apparatus and tricuspid annulus; CT offers complementary information about annular structure, and its relationship with the right coronary artery. The following review will describe TV anatomy, define transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic views for evaluating TV morphology, function and TR grading with some clues on interventional perspectives.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods
  • Humans
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Tricuspid Valve / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tricuspid Valve / physiopathology
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology