Comparing Two Methods of Aortic Annulus Computed Tomography Measurements: A Retrospective Teleradiology Saudi Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the overall mean size of the aortic valve annulus and to compare two distinct methods of quantifying aortic valve annulus dimensions using computed tomography (CT) in pre-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) Saudi teleradiology cohort. Materials and methodsThis retrospective cohort study, conducted from December 2019 to September 2023, included 31 patients identified using "TAVI" in our teleradiology picture archiving and communication system. CT examinations followed standardized protocols. Three experienced radiologists assessed the aortic valve annulus, measuring maximum, minimum, and mean transverse diameters, area, and area-derived diameter. The statistical analysis involved calculating mean values and standard deviations and conducting t-tests to compare measurement methods. ResultsThe study cohort had an average age of 73.35 ± 8.55 years, with 67.74% males. No significant age difference was observed between genders (p = 0.8421). Aortic valve annulus measurements showed the mean transverse diameter to be 22.51 ± 2.04 mm and the area-derived diameter at 22.83 ± 1.99 mm, with no significant difference between these methods (p = 0.53). Additional parameters included the maximum transverse measurement (25.78 ± 2.92 mm), minimum transverse measurement (19.23 ± 2.31 mm), and area (4.12 ± 0.72 cm²). ConclusionThis study employed mean and area-derived diameter methods to evaluate the average size of the aortic valve annulus within a Saudi teleradiology cohort. The average sizes determined were 22.51 mm and 22.83 mm for the mean and area-derived diameter methods, respectively. The lack of a statistically significant difference between these two methods suggests their comparable efficacy in assessing aortic valve annulus size in this cohort.