Morphological changes of the tricuspid valve complex in functional tricuspid regurgitation on contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Background Whether it is possible to perform morphological evaluation of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was examined by evaluating the relationships between the parameters measured on contrast-enhanced CT and TR severity on transthoracic echocardiography. Methods Fifty patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT. Tricuspid annulus area (TAA), tricuspid annulus circumference (TAC), right ventricular volume (RVV), and the distances between the tips and bases of the papillary muscles were measured on contrast-enhanced CT in diastole and systole. The 50 cases were divided into 34 in the TR ≤ mild group (no TR: 3 cases, trivial TR: 24 cases, mild TR: 7 cases), and 16 in the TR ≥ moderate group (moderate TR: 8 cases, severe TR: 8 cases) using the TR grade measured by transthoracic echocardiography, and then differences between the groups were examined. Results Significant differences were found in TAA, TAC, and RVV (p p 0.7, and the maximum AUC was 0.925 for dRVV. Conclusions TAA, TAC, RVV, and the distance between the tips of the anterior and posterior papillary muscles measured on contrast-enhanced CT were shown to be significantly increased in the TR ≥ moderate group. Detailed morphological assessment of FTR is possible by contrast-enhanced CT.