Massive mitral annular calcification with valvular involvement: Multimodality and longitudinal imaging correlation
Mitral annular calcification is a chronic and progressive process involving the fibrous support of the mitral valve and is commonly encountered as an incidental finding in elderly patients. In rare cases, it may evolve into a massive form with relevant diagnostic and clinical implications. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with a history of transient ischemic attacks and prior syncopal episodes who presented with progressive exertional dyspnea. Serial imaging over 8 years demonstrated progressive calcification of the mitral annulus, initially visible as a subtle curvilinear density on chest radiography and later becoming a prominent annular structure. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed preserved left ventricular systolic function, mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, and moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation, with extensive calcification of both the mitral and aortic valve apparatus. Cardiac computed tomography provided definitive characterization, demonstrating massive, confluent, high-attenuation calcification of the mitral annulus with bulky crescentic morphology and mild extension toward the left ventricular inflow tract, without an associated soft-tissue component. This case highlights the value of longitudinal and multimodality imaging in recognizing massive mitral annular calcification and underscores its association with systemic cardiovascular risk factors.
Authors
- Eluisa Muscogiuri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3820-1902)
- R. Maresca
- Federica Masino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4289-3289)
- Giuseppe Guglielmi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4325-8330)
- Manuela Montatore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1526-5047)
- Ruggiero Tupputi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0329-6320)
- Gabriele Fanigliulo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9527-776X)
- Francesca Calò
Institutions
- University of Foggia (IT)
- Ospedale A. Perrino (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Radiology Case Reports
- Published
- 2026-06-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2026.05.087
- Primary Topic
- Cardiac Valve Diseases and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00