Calcifications of the heart

Cardiac calcification may be a reflection of degenerative processes associated with aging, and not a reflection of a pathologic process that affects cardiac function. This is probably true in cases of mitral annular and isolated aortic annular calcification. Pericardial calcification indicates a previous insult; in the proper clinical circumstances, pericardial calcification indicates pericardial constriction, a clinically important condition to exclude. Calcification of the coronary arteries reflects the presence and progression of atherosclerosis. Use of very fast CT allows quantitation of coronary calcium, a method of screening patients at risk for coronary heart disease. Aortic leaflet calcification is associated with a valvular gradient. Myocardial calcification reflects the presence of a scar or ventricular aneurysm.