Live/Real Time Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Findings in Caseous Mitral Annular Calcification

We describe a 77-year-old female with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in whom live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) provided incremental value over two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (2DTTE, 2DTEE) and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) in making a more comprehensive assessment and a more confident diagnosis of caseous mitral annular calcification. 3DTEE revealed a portion of the mass to consist of small, multiple, highly echogenic discrete band-like and punctate areas within a relatively much less echogenic stroma and surrounded by a well defined highly echogenic border. This appearance correlated with the pathological findings of calcific granules/strands located in a liquefied or semiliquefied interior providing a typical toothpaste like appearance. The highly echogenic outer border represented the residual outer portion or rim of the calcific mass which did not undergo liquefaction. These findings on 3DTEE which correlated with the toothpaste like appearance seen at surgery were not visualized on 2DTTE, 2DTEE, and 3DTTE. (Echocardiography 2010;27:1147-1150)