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What Does My Echocardiogram Report Indicate?
Question: My brother 27 years old had an echocardiogram just as a routine check up due to family history of HCM. No HCM in immediate family, and his exam was also normal both ecg and echo.
His first echo was normal with normal aortic tricuspid that opens normally and no sign of aortic valve stenosis.
For an unrelated reason, just to change doctors and have a new file, he repeated an echo with a different doctor like four days later. His echo was also normal, except this time his report mentioned aortic valve is slightly thickened, tricuspid with normal color doppler flow.
Thickening as i read means sclerosis, and my brother is only 27 years although he smokes.
My question is how can one report say normal aortic valve and four days later slight thickening ? Is this a common finding at his age ? And would slight thickening mean aortic sclerosis???
His first echo was normal with normal aortic tricuspid that opens normally and no sign of aortic valve stenosis.
For an unrelated reason, just to change doctors and have a new file, he repeated an echo with a different doctor like four days later. His echo was also normal, except this time his report mentioned aortic valve is slightly thickened, tricuspid with normal color doppler flow.
Thickening as i read means sclerosis, and my brother is only 27 years although he smokes.
My question is how can one report say normal aortic valve and four days later slight thickening ? Is this a common finding at his age ? And would slight thickening mean aortic sclerosis???
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that these small differences between the two cardiac ultrasound reports do not have any clinical significance.
In my opinion, they could be related to inter-observer variability, caused by the different techniques and angles of measurement used by the technician during the echo test.
Anyway, I would like to directly review those cardiac ultrasound reports, if you can upload them for a more professional opinion.
Hope to have been helpful!
I remain at your disposal, whenever you have any other questions!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that these small differences between the two cardiac ultrasound reports do not have any clinical significance.
In my opinion, they could be related to inter-observer variability, caused by the different techniques and angles of measurement used by the technician during the echo test.
Anyway, I would like to directly review those cardiac ultrasound reports, if you can upload them for a more professional opinion.
Hope to have been helpful!
I remain at your disposal, whenever you have any other questions!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I attached the reports. Is in an incidental finding of slight aortic valve thickening usually seen in smokers of his age ?
Also, u have answered one of my questions earlier regatding what one doctor labeled as sigmoid septum and and another as not sigmoid and normal variant. I attached the picture again, you said it does not fulfill the criteria for sigmoid septum. Do you see a septum that is shaped like this in normal adults then and consider it normal ?
Also, u have answered one of my questions earlier regatding what one doctor labeled as sigmoid septum and and another as not sigmoid and normal variant. I attached the picture again, you said it does not fulfill the criteria for sigmoid septum. Do you see a septum that is shaped like this in normal adults then and consider it normal ?
Brief Answer:
Opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again, dear Fatima!
I reviewed carefully your uploaded reports and would explain that there is nothing to worry about!
It is true that severe smoking with age becomes a an important factor influencing connective tissue including also the aortic wall and valve.
But, it is not the case with your brother.
At his young age this is quite unlikely. In addition, as you may easily understand it is not possible that the aortic valve becomes sclerotic after a short period of time (from one echo test to the other).
So, it is just an inter-observer variability without any clinical significance.
Regarding your second question, my answer is Yes!
Such a septum is frequently found and it is considered within the normal ranges.
No abnormalities could be revealed by such a morphology and dimensions.
So, relax and don't worry about!
That's my opinion.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again, dear Fatima!
I reviewed carefully your uploaded reports and would explain that there is nothing to worry about!
It is true that severe smoking with age becomes a an important factor influencing connective tissue including also the aortic wall and valve.
But, it is not the case with your brother.
At his young age this is quite unlikely. In addition, as you may easily understand it is not possible that the aortic valve becomes sclerotic after a short period of time (from one echo test to the other).
So, it is just an inter-observer variability without any clinical significance.
Regarding your second question, my answer is Yes!
Such a septum is frequently found and it is considered within the normal ranges.
No abnormalities could be revealed by such a morphology and dimensions.
So, relax and don't worry about!
That's my opinion.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor for your detailed reponse.
Given the way the aortic valve is measured, is it possible to have an area that appears slightly thick ? Is the aortic valve thickness measured by figures or simply by observation ?
Given the way the aortic valve is measured, is it possible to have an area that appears slightly thick ? Is the aortic valve thickness measured by figures or simply by observation ?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Every conclusion in the cardiac ultrasound report is based on measurements.
But the measurement may differ from the angle of measurement and the technique used.
By observation we can raise suspicions, but conclusions are only based on direct measurements in the ultrasound screen.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Every conclusion in the cardiac ultrasound report is based on measurements.
But the measurement may differ from the angle of measurement and the technique used.
By observation we can raise suspicions, but conclusions are only based on direct measurements in the ultrasound screen.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Considering this was not an inter-observer variability. Would mild thickening of aortic valve be seen in a healthy 27 year old ?
And if so, what is the significance of this ? Is he at greater risk of having aortic stenosis earlier ?
And if so, what is the significance of this ? Is he at greater risk of having aortic stenosis earlier ?
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear!
Yes, this echo finding can be seen in a healthy 27 years old person, and it has not any clinical significance.
It does not indicate any increased risk for having aortic stenosis earlier.
I would just recommend follow up with a cardiac ultrasound every 6-12 months.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear!
Yes, this echo finding can be seen in a healthy 27 years old person, and it has not any clinical significance.
It does not indicate any increased risk for having aortic stenosis earlier.
I would just recommend follow up with a cardiac ultrasound every 6-12 months.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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