In-Vitro Verification of the Electron Beam Tomography Method for Measurement of Heart Valve Calcification
Giovanni Melina MD, Michael J. Scott PhD, Crystal M. Cunanan, Michael B. Rubens FRCR, Magdi H. Yacoub FRS

An in-vitro model has been designed to test the efficacy of electron beam tomography (EBT) in the detection and quantification of calcium in heart valve bioprostheses. Seven experimental biological valves were studied with EBT, and calcium scored accordingly. Using conventional X-radiography analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis, a highly significant correlation was found between these methods for calcium quantification and EBT scores of calcification.