[Assessment of valvular heart disease: the role of imaging from diagnosis to intervention].

Valvular heart disease is common in an aging population and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Modern cardiovascular imaging is central to diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making, and longitudinal follow-up of aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease throughout the entire care pathway - from initial evaluation to specialized intervention. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains the first-line modality for initial diagnosis and follow-up assessment. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides detailed morphological evaluation of the valves and is indispensable for surgical and interventional planning, particularly of the atrioventricular valves. Cardiac CT is the current standard for planning transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and is gaining importance in percutaneous mitral and tricuspid valve replacement, including simulation-based planning and risk assessment. Cardiac MRI contributes primarily to precise volume quantification and the assessment of ventricular function and myocardial structure. Peri-interventional TEE has become an essential real-time guidance tool in the catheter laboratory, enabling precise device navigation and immediate evaluation of procedural success. The targeted use of complementary imaging modalities is crucial for accurate assessment of valvular pathology, optimal planning and guidance of interventions, and long-term patient follow-up. Imaging is therefore not merely a diagnostic aid but the foundation of modern, increasingly catheter-based valve therapy.