Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: potential utility of Strain imaging.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a frequently recognized condition on echocardiography. The apical variant, also known as 'Japanese variant', is rare and often poses a diagnostic challenge. There has been a resurgence of interest in the diagnosis of HCM especially with the advent of novel imaging modalities such as strain imaging. Two-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography calculates tissue velocities via frame-to-frame tracking of acoustic markers within the image and provides strain parameters comparable with tissue-Doppler-derived strain. We describe paradoxical apical strain (systolic lengthening) without overt apical dyskinesis (conventional imaging) in two patients with apical HCM, using 2D strain imaging. Our report highlights a novel application of 2D strain imaging that could facilitate the diagnosis of apical HCM.
Reddy
Madhulatha
M
Division of Cardiology, Wayne State University, Harper University Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit MI 48201, USA.
Thatai
Deepak
D
Bernal
Juan
J
Pradhan
Jyoti
J
Afonso
Luis
L
D000328:Adult; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography