What unit is used to express the Mitral Valve Area (MVA)?

What unit is used to express the Mitral Valve Area (MVA)?

• A. ms
• B. cm2
• C. mmHg
• D. L/min

Answer: (B)

Mitral Valve Area is an area measure, so it is expressed in square units. In echocardiography, the opening size of the mitral valve is reported in square centimeters (cm2). The other options represent time (ms), pressure (mmHg), or flow (L/min), none of which describe an area. Methods like planimetry or pressure-half-time both yield a value in cm2, reflecting how open the valve is to permit blood flow. Normal MVA is around several cm2, and decreasing MVA indicates increasing stenosis; for reference, severe mitral stenosis corresponds to a much smaller area.

Mitral Valve Area is an area measure, so it is expressed in square units. In echocardiography, the opening size of the mitral valve is reported in square centimeters (cm2). The other options represent time (ms), pressure (mmHg), or flow (L/min), none of which describe an area. Methods like planimetry or pressure-half-time both yield a value in cm2, reflecting how open the valve is to permit blood flow. Normal MVA is around several cm2, and decreasing MVA indicates increasing stenosis; for reference, severe mitral stenosis corresponds to a much smaller area.