A Diagnostic Pitfall of CT Calcium Scoring in Paradoxical Low-Flow, Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis With Rheumatic Morphology: a case report

Clicks: 3
ID: 316444
2026
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #193 of 261 articles by views in European Heart Journal - Case Reports

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 261 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Abstract
Abstract Background Computed tomography (CT) calcium scoring is used to adjudicate paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, its reliability may be limited in rheumatic disease. Case summary An 82-year-old woman with prior mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral stenosis was referred for AS. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an aortic valve area (AVA) of 0.50 cm2, mean pressure gradient of 27 mmHg, stroke volume index of 30 mL/m2, and preserved systolic function, suggesting paradoxical LFLG severe AS. The CT calcium score was 889 Agatston units, below the female threshold for severe AS. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated commissural fusion, leaflet tip thickening, and planimetry-derived AVA of 0.69 cm2, confirming severe AS. The patient underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation, with 6-minute walk distance improving from 150 to 254 m. Discussion In rheumatic morphology, low CT calcium burden may not exclude severe AS because obstruction may be driven by commissural fusion and fibrosis rather than bulky calcification. Three-dimensional TEE planimetry can serve as an anatomy-based adjudicator when echocardiographic and CT calcium findings are discordant.
Reference Key
openalex_W7164061764 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Jun Yoshida, Toraaki Okuyama, Hiromasa Yamamoto, Utaro Taga, Michifumi Tokuda
Journal European Heart Journal - Case Reports
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/ehjcr/ytag436
URL
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.