[Regional myocardial contraction in ischemic heart disease: evaluation of regional myocardial thickening by two-dimensional echocardiography].
There were many studies concerning the evaluation of regional wall motion in ischemic heart disease by left ventriculography (LVG) and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), but only a few observations on the regional myocardial thickening have been reported. In a survey of 48 cases of old myocardial infarction, we selected 21 cases with adequate 2DE images for the evaluation of regional wall motion and thickening. In all cases the 2DE examinations were performed within seven days before or after LVG examinations. The left ventricular wall on 2DE was divided into 11 segments and wall motion and thickening in each segment were graded to three classes, i.e. none, reduced and normal. The results on 2DE were then compared with the grade of wall motion of the corresponding segment on LVG. The sensitivity and specificity of 2DE wall motion were 50% and 89% in none, 59% and 48% in reduced, and 89% and 84% in normal, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of 2DE myocardial thickening were 81% and 93% in none, 82% and 70% in reduced, and 92% in normal, respectively. These results indicated that the regional myocardial thickening by 2DE has a higher sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, observation of both myocardial thickening and wall motion will be necessary for the proper evaluation of regional myocardial contraction in ischemic heart disease.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*