The echocardiographic diagnosis of calcified mitral annulus.

Echocardiograms were recorded in six patients with calcification of the mitral annulus. Echocardiographic sweep from the aorta to the left ventricular cavity revealed dense echoes, representing annulus calcification, posterior to the mitral valve. Characteristic calcium deposits in the region of the mitral annulus were detected on the chest roentgenogram of only a single subject. Cardiac fluoroscopy fluoroscopy demonstrated calcified mitral annulus in all patients. In one patient, coexisting calcified mitral annulus and proven pericardial effusion were diagnosed echocardiographically. It is concluded that the echocardiogram represents a useful noninvasive technic for the diagnosis of calcified mitral annulus.

The echocardiographic correlates of left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed by electrocardiography.

Echocardiography was performed in 28 consecutive patients who manifested accepted criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy on their electrocardiograms. Four groups of patients were identified: Group 1, nineteen (68%) who had an increase in both interventricular septal and left ventricular posterior wall thickness; Group 2, three patients (11%) with isolated enlargement of the left ventricular internal dimension; Group 3, two subjects (7%) with increased septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness and left ventricular internal dimension and Group 4, four patients (14%) with normal echocardiographic measurements. It is concluded that increases in both septal and left ventricular wall thickness are the primary echocardiographic correlates of left ventricular hypertrophy as diagnosed on the electrocardiogram.