Complementary roles of transthoracic two-dimensional color Doppler imaging and myocardial contrast echocardiography in diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis.
Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare progressive restrictive cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology that mainly presents with heart failure. The presence of a small ventricle with obliteration of the apex and a large atrium are two-dimensional echocardiographic findings that are highly suggestive of EMF. Cardiac magnetic resonance with delayed enhancement allows detection of subendocardial fibrosis with good histopathological correlation, providing a noninvasive modality for diagnosing EMF. We herein report a case of EMF in which the complementary role of two-dimensional color Doppler imaging and myocardial contrast echocardiography proved to be useful in the diagnosis of this clinical entity, which was later confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance, surgery, and histopathology.
Diaz
Rienzi A
RA
Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinica Renaca, Viña del Mar, University of Valparaiso School of Medicine, Valparaiso, Chile. rdiaz@clinicarenaca.cl
Aranguiz
Ernesto
E
Pedemonte
Oneglio
O
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
D003287:Contrast Media