Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does The Following Echo Report Indicate?
Question: ---Details of person:
30 male. 6'0" 195 lbs. Resting HR 50-55. In decent shape (can run 2 miles, bench press 250lbs, do 75 pushups in a row, 20 pull ups, ect), but not super in shape, just average/above average. During 2-3 mile runs, HR in 160's, never out of breath, but sometimes a little lightheaded. Has white coat BP in docs office but at home always gets normal values. (100-125 / 50-80)
---Question:
-Recent echo in XXXXXXX 2015 showed a mildy dialted LV (5.7 cm), but with overall normal function. Note that walls were normal but on the thin side. (.7 for septal and post wall).
-Past echos in 2009 were not exactly the same. One in XXXXXXX of 2009 everything was pretty normal. Walls were around 1cm. Then one in July of 2009 showed mild hypertrophy but it was the wall that was thicker, not the chamber. Walls .9 and 1.3
So is my recent echo a concern or not? The doc didnt have any concern about it. My question is it seems that the LV diameter is high now (5.7), and the walls are on the lowest side of normal (.7). So is this a problem? Clearly these measurements are not perfect as my first 2 echos were a month apart with differnt numbers. But is the current 5.7 LV diamater a concern? And why have the walls got smaller compared to earlier studies?
Files attached.
echo 1 - XXXXXXX of 2009
echo 2 - July of 2009
echo 3 - XXXXXXX of 2015
30 male. 6'0" 195 lbs. Resting HR 50-55. In decent shape (can run 2 miles, bench press 250lbs, do 75 pushups in a row, 20 pull ups, ect), but not super in shape, just average/above average. During 2-3 mile runs, HR in 160's, never out of breath, but sometimes a little lightheaded. Has white coat BP in docs office but at home always gets normal values. (100-125 / 50-80)
---Question:
-Recent echo in XXXXXXX 2015 showed a mildy dialted LV (5.7 cm), but with overall normal function. Note that walls were normal but on the thin side. (.7 for septal and post wall).
-Past echos in 2009 were not exactly the same. One in XXXXXXX of 2009 everything was pretty normal. Walls were around 1cm. Then one in July of 2009 showed mild hypertrophy but it was the wall that was thicker, not the chamber. Walls .9 and 1.3
So is my recent echo a concern or not? The doc didnt have any concern about it. My question is it seems that the LV diameter is high now (5.7), and the walls are on the lowest side of normal (.7). So is this a problem? Clearly these measurements are not perfect as my first 2 echos were a month apart with differnt numbers. But is the current 5.7 LV diamater a concern? And why have the walls got smaller compared to earlier studies?
Files attached.
echo 1 - XXXXXXX of 2009
echo 2 - July of 2009
echo 3 - XXXXXXX of 2015
Brief Answer:
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
I went through your echo reports. I noticed that the difference between two last echos concerning left ventricle diameter is only 1 mm, actually it is nothing, it can be interoperator variability.
Which concerns to wall tickeness, usually if there is no significant health status changes, they cannot become thinner, so I think it also can be interoperator variability.
Absolute values measured during an echo study depends on echo equipment as well
So I would advise you do not worry. Continue healthy lifestyle and repeat echo in a year
Hope I was of some help to you
Please, let me know if you have further questions
Wishing you good health
Regards,
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
I went through your echo reports. I noticed that the difference between two last echos concerning left ventricle diameter is only 1 mm, actually it is nothing, it can be interoperator variability.
Which concerns to wall tickeness, usually if there is no significant health status changes, they cannot become thinner, so I think it also can be interoperator variability.
Absolute values measured during an echo study depends on echo equipment as well
So I would advise you do not worry. Continue healthy lifestyle and repeat echo in a year
Hope I was of some help to you
Please, let me know if you have further questions
Wishing you good health
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you.
Yes, I understand the lv cavity thickness is not a big deal, since 6 years ago it was only a cm smaller.
But the thin walls are still worrying me.
Is it common to have operator variability with measuring wall thickness?
What conditions could cause walls to thin at my age?
I think you are right though, I need to stop worrying about this. The reason I was worried was I thought it could be lv hypothery with walls thinning. ( a bad thing)
Seemed like cavity was getting bigger and walls thinner.
Yes, I understand the lv cavity thickness is not a big deal, since 6 years ago it was only a cm smaller.
But the thin walls are still worrying me.
Is it common to have operator variability with measuring wall thickness?
What conditions could cause walls to thin at my age?
I think you are right though, I need to stop worrying about this. The reason I was worried was I thought it could be lv hypothery with walls thinning. ( a bad thing)
Seemed like cavity was getting bigger and walls thinner.
Brief Answer:
In bad echo window walls seem thinner and cavity larger
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Interoperator variability is quite common.
If operator is not experienced enough or echo machine is not good one, the echo window will not be good. In this case myocardial borders are not seen well, so walls will appear thinner and cavity larger.
If you are concerned much, the only thing I can advise you is to repeat echo in a modern and experienced centre. And ask for the tape also, not only for report. So after you will have something to compare.
Wishing you good health
Regards
In bad echo window walls seem thinner and cavity larger
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Interoperator variability is quite common.
If operator is not experienced enough or echo machine is not good one, the echo window will not be good. In this case myocardial borders are not seen well, so walls will appear thinner and cavity larger.
If you are concerned much, the only thing I can advise you is to repeat echo in a modern and experienced centre. And ask for the tape also, not only for report. So after you will have something to compare.
Wishing you good health
Regards
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
