Cardiac computed tomography of the canine mitral and tricuspid valves.

Cardiac CT is an essential preprocedural planning tool as transcatheter and surgical AV valve therapies expand in veterinary cardiology.

This review article examines the role of cardiac computed tomography (cCT) in evaluating mitral and tricuspid valve disease in dogs. While echocardiography remains the primary diagnostic modality for atrioventricular (AV) valve disease, cCT offers superior spatial and temporal resolution and overcomes limitations associated with poor acoustic windows. The article details technical considerations essential for optimal cardiac imaging, including contrast medium administration protocols, electrocardiographic (ECG) gating techniques, and precise scan timing to capture specific phases of the cardiac cycle. Clinical applications discussed encompass both congenital conditions—such as AV valve dysplasia and stenosis—and acquired diseases including degenerative mitral valve disease and cardiac neoplasia. The modality enables detailed visualization of valve leaflet morphology, subvalvular apparatus, and cardiac chamber volumes. Additionally, cCT is highlighted as a valuable tool for postprocedural assessment following transcatheter device placement and surgical valve interventions. Advanced postprocessing capabilities, including volume rendering, virtual reality visualization, and three-dimensional printing, are emphasized as adjuncts for anatomical comprehension and interventional planning. The author anticipates that as mechanical and transcatheter therapies for AV valve disease expand in veterinary medicine—mirroring trends in human cardiology—cCT will transition from an adjunctive tool to a required component of preprocedural planning workflows. Overall, this review positions cCT as a transformative and increasingly indispensable imaging modality in veterinary cardiology.

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