Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Mitral Valve Diseases

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has been considered an essential tool for the assessment of cases with mitral valve (MV) disease (MVD). It offers a detailed assessment of MV and its effects on the heart by offering accurate volumetric evaluation and myocardial scar evaluation.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the role of CMR in diagnosis and evaluation of mitral valve diseases.
Methods: This prospective study included 25 patients with mitral valve diseases. Radiological approaches were done at both Cardiology Department and Radiology Department and included two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (echo) (‎2D TTE) and CMR of the heart and proximal great vessels.
Results: The mitral valve by MRI revealed mild MR in 36%, moderate MR in 4% and severe MR in 12%. Thickened MV leaflets in 28 %. MV prolapse 8%. Annular disjunction in 4% of the patients. Mild MR by Echocardiography was detected in 48%, moderate MR in 16% and severe in 8%. SAM of AML was shown in 4%. Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) was recorded in 4%. Thickened leaflets in 28%. There was mild agreement between MRI and echo in detection of LVOT (k=0.359, P=0.019).There was a significant strong agreement between MRI and echocardiography in detection of ejection fraction (Interclass correlation coefficient was 0.714) (p=0.006).
Conclusion: CMR played an essential role in terms of valvular heart disease (VHD). It enabled the visual analysis of valvular shape and function. CMR as a noninvasive imaging modality played an important role to assess mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and mitral regurgitant volume (MRV).