Diagnostic Value of Contrast-Enhanced Multiphase Computed Tomography for Assessment of Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Obstruction

Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement has emerged as an alternative to operation for some patients with congenital heart disease requiring intervention. Endocarditis is increasingly described as an adverse event during follow-up [1-4]. Diagnosis is difficult because of the poor visualization of the prosthetic valve in the pulmonary position by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram and by the metallic artifact that degrades the image quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two cases of percutaneous pulmonary valve obstruction diagnosed by cardiac computed tomographic angiography are presented. These cases demonstrate the utility of cardiac computed tomography for noninvasive imaging of suspected thrombus or endocarditis in a percutaneously placed pulmonary valve. (C) 2016 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons