Evaluation of aortic bioprosthesis stenosis by multidetector CT

Because visualization the bioprosthesis leaflets is often hampered by shadowing artifacts from to the metal in the annulus or the struts, visualization and determination of the etiology of bioprosthesis valve dysfunction may be often difficult by transthoracic and even transesophageal echocardiography. We demonstrate two cases in which 256 slice-multidetector row computed tomography was able to visualize acute aortic bioprosthesis thrombosis. In the first case we could demonstrate thrombosis of the valve by comparing images to a computed tomography exam performed 4 months earlier. In the second case we demonstrate the disappearance the thrombus and normalization of restrained valve opening in a follow-up CT study, performed after 2 months of oral anticoagulation.