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Imaging a unicuspid aortic valve with transillumination
Author(s) -
Malagoli Alessandro,
Albini Alessandro,
Baldini Luca,
Grassi Laura,
Tondi Stefano
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.15003
Subject(s) - transillumination , bicuspid aortic valve , rendering (computer graphics) , aortic valve , medicine , cardiology , computer science , artificial intelligence , pathology
Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare congenital malformation which portends an augmented risk of early valve degeneration. Timely detection of this cardiac valvular anomaly is crucial because a strict follow‐up is warranted. Currently, the best morphological information is provided by two‐dimensional echocardiography; however, its diagnostic performance has been found to be suboptimal by some anatomical features, making it tough to distinguish between UAV and bicuspid aortic valve. Transillumination is a photo‐realism technique that employs the use of a virtual light source that simulates the interaction of light on 3‐dimensional surfaces, improving the visualization of morphological characteristics. Our report highlights the incremental value of photo‐realistic rendering and lighting source technology to better define the aortic valve morphology.