title: Accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography in the detection of aneurysms of the ventricular septum.
abstract: Eight children with angiographically proven aneurysm of the membranous ventricular septum (AVS) associated with ventricular septal defect were studied by real-time cross-sectional echocardiography. A curvilinear, sickle (dome-shaped), or irregular echo arising from the interventricular septum and bulging toward the right ventricle in systole was visualized in all patients. This finding was detected in 7 of 8 long axis views, 5 of 8 short axis views, 5 of 7 apex four-chamber views, and 4 of 7 subcostal four-chamber views. In addition, real-time cross-sectional echocardiograpic studies were performed in 40 patients with angiographically proven membranous ventricular septal defect without AVS; in only one patient was the abnormal echo suggesting aneurysm of the ventricular septum detected in the long axis and apex four-chamber views. Our echo study suggests that two-dimensional echocardiography has acceptable specificity for the diagnosis of AVS.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013599:Systole