Cardiac cycle-dependent variation of integrated backscatter is not distorted by abnormal myocardial wall motion in human subjects with paradoxical septal motion.
To define the dependence of cardiac cycle-dependent variation of integrated backscatter on regional myocardial wall motion, 8 children mean age 10.6 +/- 1.3 y with congenital cardiac lesions associated with paradoxical septal motion were studied (study group). Six healthy children mean age 9.0 +/- 0.3 y with no history of cardiac disease served as controls (control group). Subjects in the study group had paradoxical septal motion but normal septal wall thickening detected by conventional two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. The control group had normal septal motion evident by conventional echocardiographic criteria. The percentage of systolic septal thickening was 46 +/- 4.5% and 42 +/- 5.9% in the study and control groups (p = NS). Cyclic variation was measured in parasternal long-axis views from several septal sites in each subject. Mean values of the magnitude of cyclic variation from independent septal sites were averaged to yield a regional average value for each subject. The average regional magnitude of cyclic variation was 8.3 +/- 1.0 dB and 5.7 +/- 0.4 dB in the study and control groups (p = NS). The results indicate that the measurement of cyclic variation of integrated backscatter is not distorted by altered regional wall motion, and that it reflects intrinsic contractile function.
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110.
M R
MR
Milunski
C E
CE
Canter
S A
SA
Wickline
B E
BE
Sobel
J G
JG
Miller
J E
JE
Pérez
D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction