Quantitative assessment of normal and stenotic aortic valve using transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography.

The present study demonstrates the feasibility of transesophageal three-dimensional reconstruction of normal, sclerotic, and stenotic aortic valves using a computed tomographic ultrasound system. The study also shows the potential clinical usefulness of this technique in delineating aortic valve morphology (extent and severity of valve thickening and calcification and size and number of cusps) and assessing aortic orifice areas by direct planimetry of the three-dimensional images.