ABSTRACT
We evaluated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) by multiple echocardiographic techniques in 93 consecutive patients who underwent standard two-dimensional (2D) and live three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TR vena contracta (VC) area was obtained by 3D TTE by systematic and sequential cropping of the acquired 3D TTE dataset. Assessment of VC area by 3D TTE was compared to 2D TTE measurements of the ratio of TR regurgitant jet area to right atrial area (RJA/RAA), RJA alone, VC width, and calculated VC area. VC area from 3D TTE closely correlated with RJA/RAA and RJA alone as determined from 2D TTE measurements. Live 3D TTE color Doppler measurements of VC area can be used for quantitative assessment of TR and offer incremental value for quantification of particularly severe regurgitant lesions.
Subject(s)
Echocardiography, Doppler, Color , Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alabama , Female , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Pulmonary Wedge Pressure , Sensitivity and Specificity , Severity of Illness Index , Stroke Volume , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/epidemiology , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/physiopathology , Ventricular Function, RightABSTRACT
We describe an adult patient in whom live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography combined with intravenous use of an echo contrast agent was useful in making a definitive diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in characterizing the nature and full extent of the hypertrophy.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnostic imaging , Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/methods , Echocardiography/methods , Thorax/diagnostic imaging , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnostic imaging , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/complications , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Severity of Illness Index , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/etiologyABSTRACT
We report a case of a middle-aged woman in whom a transesophageal echocardiogram showed a mass-like lesion posteriorly near the descending thoracic aorta. We were able to make a definitive diagnosis of this mass as a hiatal hernia because of a thick inner lining measuring 6-9 mm in thickness similar to the stomach mucosa, and the presence of a few microbubbles within the mass. In addition, the microbubbles increased considerably after 10 cc of agitated normal saline flush via a nasogastric tube.
