SUPPLEMENT TO APPLIED RADIOLOGY0 www.appliedradiology.com
Joseph C. McGinley, MD, PhD
Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging of the cardiac valves has advanced significantly with the development of 16- and 64-detector scanners. Early MDCT imaging was primarily used to assess valvular calcifications; however, with improved temporal resolution, current scanners can visualize subtle anatomy and can also evaluate valve function. With advancing technology, the role of MDCT as a convenient and accurate imaging modality is increasing in both preoperative assessment and the evaluation of postsurgical patients with valvular disease.