Diagnostic Value Of Echocardiography Research Articles

The Diagnostic Value of Echocardiography in Cardiovascular Arterial Embolism

The Diagnostic Value of Echocardiography in Cardiovascular Arterial Embolism

The Etiology of Chest Pain in Children Admitted to Cardiology Clinics and the Use Echocardiography to Screen for Cardiac Chest Pain in Children.

AimsChest pain is a common disease in children. Most cardiac specialists use echocardiography to evaluate the etiology of and screen for children’s cardiac chest pain. We analyzed the etiology and echocardiography results of children with chest pain in pediatric cardiology clinics, clarified the disease spectrum and evaluated the diagnostic value of echocardiography in screening cardiac chest pain in children.Methods and ResultsThe clinical data of children with chest pain aged younger than 18 years who admitted to the pediatric cardiology clinic of Beijing Anzhen Hospital between 2005 and 2019 were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups, including the preschool group, the school-age group and the adolescent group. Total 3,477 children were enrolled in this study. 232 (6.7%) patients were caused by cardiac diseases and chest pain was of non-cardiac origin in 3,245 patients (93.3%). The incidence of non-cardiac chest pain in the adolescent group was significantly lower than the other two groups, respectively (91.4 vs. 94.9 vs. 94.3%, P < 0.05). In the preschool group, most of the patients were girls (51.4%), while in the school-age group and the adolescent group, most of the patients were boys (P < 0.05). Among the children (n = 3,205) who underwent echocardiography, 108 children had positive results, and 3,097 children had negative results. Among the 108 positive results, 10 cases of cardiac diseases were related to chest pain. The sensitivity, specificity of echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac chest pain were 6.7, and 96.9%, while the positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 12.96 and 93.67%, respectively.ConclusionIn children with chest pain who are admitted to pediatric cardiology clinics, chest pain is mostly benign and rarely due to cardiac diseases. The use of echocardiography in evaluating cardiac chest pain in children is of little diagnostic value and leads to excess costs for patients and the health care system.

Comparative assessment of the diagnostic value of echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging in determining myocardial viability

Aim. To compare myocardial imaging methods in patients with complicated coronary artery disease with significantly decreased myocardial contractility.Material and methods. This single-center retrospective study included 109 patients with complicated coronary artery disease who underwent surgical treatment between 2014 and 2020. All patients had indications for delayed contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to determine myocardial viability due to a pronounced decrease in left ventricular contractility according to echocardiography (ejection fraction (EF) ≤30%).Results. Impairment of local contractility according to MRI and echocardiography significantly correlates with depth of contrast accumulation (p=0,0000000018 and p=0,0000034, respectively). Delayed contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI with cine sequences allows to determine higher number of impaired contractility cases compared with echocardiography (p=0,000006).Conclusion. MRI with cine sequence allowed to determine higher number of impaired contractility cases compared with echocardiography. Delayed contrastenhanced MRI is a reliably more sensitive method than electrocardiography in detecting left ventricular scarring. The depth of contrast agent accumulation correlates with local contractility impairment detected by echocardiography and delayed contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI.

Comparing the diagnostic value of Echocardiography In Stroke (CEIS) \u2013 results of a prospective observatory cohort study

BackgroundEchocardiography is one of the main diagnostic tools for the diagnostic workup of stroke and is already well integrated into the clinical workup. However, the value of transthoracic vs. transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE) in stroke patients is still a matter of debate. Aim of this study was to characterize relevant findings of TTE and TEE in the management of stroke patients and to correlate them with subsequent clinical decisions and therapies.MethodsWe evaluated n = 107 patients admitted with an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack to our stroke unit of our university medical center. They underwent TTE and TEE examination by different blinded investigators.ResultsMajor cardiac risk factors were found in 8 of 98 (8.2%) patients and minor cardiac risk factors for stroke were found in 108 cases. We found a change in therapeutic regime after TTE or TEE in 22 (22.5%) cases, in 5 (5%) cases TEE leads to the change of therapeutic regime, in 4 (4%) TTE and in 13 cases (13.3%) TTE and TEE lead to the same change in therapeutic regime. The major therapy change was the indication to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in 9 (9.2%) patients with TTE and in 10 (10.2%) patients with TEE (p = 1.000).ConclusionMajor finding with clinical impact on therapy change is the detection of PFO. But for the detection of PFO, TTE is non inferior to TEE, implicating that TTE serves as a good screening tool for detection of PFO, especially in young age patients.Trial registrationThe trial was registered and approved prior to inclusion by our local ethics committee (1/3/17).

Diagnostic value of echocardiography in paracardiac cystic lesions: 43 cases from one single medical center

Paracardial cystic lesions (PCLs) are rare, benign lesions and may occur in any part surrounding the heart. It covers a variety of pathological types, including pericardial cysts, thymic cysts, bronchogenic cysts and so on. The aim of this study was to summarize the diagnostic value of echocardiography in different pathological types of the PCLs. Echocardiographic features of 43 consecutive PCL patients treated at the Union Hospital from January 2002 to December 2017 were compared and analyzed with their surgical and pathological findings retrospectively. The PCLs included 19 pericardial cysts, 12 thymic cysts, 7 bronchogenic cysts, 3 cystic teratomas, 1 enteric cyst and 1 lymphangioma. Among them, 29 cases (67.4%) were accurately diagnosed by echocardiography and 14 cases (32.6%) were missed the diagnosis. All diagnosed cysts were showed as thin-walled, monolocular, echo-free structures without blood flow signals in echocardiographic images. 4 patients had compression of the heart and great vessels caused by cysts. In addition, 4 intracardiac lesions were diagnosed by echocardiography and the results were further confirmed in surgery. Echocardiography is of great value in the diagnosis of paracardiac cystic lesions as well as combined intracardiac lesions. Differential diagnosis could be mainly made based on the location of the lesions.

Diagnosis of congenital double-chambered left ventricle by Doppler echocardiography

Objective To review the imaging characteristics and evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography for congenital double-chambered left ventricle(DCLV) in children, and improve the diagnostic accuracy of initial echocardiography. Methods Doppler echocardiography was performed and these images were compared retrospectively with operative and computed tomography angiography findings in 8 children with DCLV. Results DCLV was characterized by the presence of a main left ventricular chamber and an auxiliary chamber seperated by abnormally hypertrophic muscle and/or fiber bundles. Six cases were diagnosed with type A, and 2 cases with type B by Li Jun′s classification. The associated malformations included ventricular septal defect (3 cases), mitral regurgitation (2 cases), mitral valve stenosis (1 case). Six of 8 cases(75.0%) were diagnosed correctly using Doppler echocardiography, in the remaining 2 cases (25.0%), 1 case was missed, 1 case misdiagnosed as left ventricular diverticulum. Conclusions DCLV could be correctedly diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography. This malformation should be differentiated from left ventricular diverticulum, left ventricular aneurysm, left ventricular non-compaction, and ventricular septal defect. Key words: Echocardiography, Doppler; Double-chambered left ventricle

Diagnostic value of echocardiography in fetal cardiac malformation and clinical classification.

Diagnostic value of echocardiography in fetal cardiac malformation and clinical classification was investigated. In total, 206 high-risk parturients, who received a screening of prenatal fetal cardiac malformation in Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2015 to June 2017, were retrospectively analyzed, among those parturients, the results of labor induction or newborns of 141 parturients were diagnosed as cardiac malformation, the fetuses of 65 parturients were diagnosed as non-cardiac malformation, the detection of fetal cardiac malformation of all the parturients was carried out by two-dimensional ultrasound and four-dimensional ultrasound during gestation period, presence or absence of congenital cardiac malformation of the fetuses and clinical classification were estimated. The sensitivity of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis combined with four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis was significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis and four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis (P<0.05). In addition, the sensitivity of four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis was significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis (P<0.05). The specificity and positive predictive value of four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis were significantly higher than those of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis and two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis combined with four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis (P<0.05). The diagnostic coincidence rates of four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis and two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis combined with four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis were significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis (P<0.05). The negative predictive values of the combined ultrasound diagnosis and four-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis were significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis (P<0.05). The diagnostic efficiency of two-dimensional ultrasound combined with four-dimensional ultrasound was good in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac malformation in prenatal period of pregnant women, it could improve detection rate of fetal cardiac malformation and is worthy of being generalized in clinic.

Diagnosis of levoatriocardinal vein in children by Doppler echocardiography

Objective To review the imaging characteristics and evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography for levoatriocardinal vein(LACV) in children. Methods Doppler echocardiography was performed and these images were compared retrospectively in 9 children with LACV, which were diagnosed through the operation of cardial surgery and computed tomography angiography findings. Results LACV was characterized by an anomalous vein connected the left atrium to the left innominate vein. There was a normal connection of the pulmonary vein with the left atrium. The associated malformations included mitral valve stenosis and mitral atresia (8 cases), single ventricle(3 cases), double outlet right ventricle (2 cases), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (2 cases), atrial septal defect with restrictive shunt (1 case), and patent foramen ovale (1 case). Six of 9 cases(66.7%) were diagnosed correctly using Doppler echocardiography, in the remaining 3 cases (33.3%), 1 case was miss diagnosed, 1 case misdiagnosed as persistent left superior vena cava, and 1 case misdiagnosed as partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Conclusions LACV can be diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography. This malformation should be differentiated from persistent left superior vena cava, and anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Key words: Echocardiography, Doppler; Levoatriocardinal vein; Child

The Value of Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Non-compaction of the Ventricular Myocardium

To analyze the echocardiographic features of non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM) and evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in NVM. 34 patients with clinically diagnosed cardiac insufficiency and cardiac arrhythmia were examined by multi-slice scan with GE vivid 7 and Philips IE33 color Doppler sonography. The echocardiographic findings were NVM. Echocardiographic features of NVM were summarized and the distribution characteristics of the lesion area were analyzed. It was found that echocardiography in all 34 patients had obvious characteristics. The myocardium at the lesion site was divided into 2 distinct layers. The outer layer was thin and dense, and the inner layer was thicker, consisting of rich trabeculae and deep recesses with different sizes, which tended to occur in the apical and lateral walls. Color Doppler ultrasound can detect blood flow in the recess and interconnect with the heart cavity. 34 patients were involved in varying degrees of valvular regurgitation of mitral, tricuspid and aortic valves. 29 patients had left ventricular dysfunction, 17 patients with complete left bundle branch block, 12 patients with premature ventricular contractions, and 7 patients with atrial fibrillation. To be concluded, NVM has typical echocardiographic features. Echocardiography can be diagnosed without noticeable symptoms, and it is the most convenient method for diagnosis of NVM.

Diagnosis of congenital malformations of the right atrium by echocardiography

Objective To review the imaging characteristics and evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography for congenital malformations of the right atrium (CMRA). Methods Doppler echocardiography was performed and these images were compared with operative findings in 11 children with CMRA. Results CMRA was characterized by idiopathic dilation of the right atrium and right heart appendage, congenital diverticulum of the right atrium and coronary sinus. CMRA consisted of idiopathic dilation of the right atrium (4 cases), congenital diverticulum of the right atrium(3 cases), idiopathic dilation of the right heart appendage (2 cases), and congenital diverticulum of the coronary sinus (2 cases). The associated malformations included patent foramen ovale (6 cases), atrial septal defect (3 cases), pulmonary hypertension (3 cases), and hypoplastic tricuspid valve (2 cases). Eight of 11 cases were diagnosed correctly, and other 3 cases were misdiagnosed, in which 1 case with idiopathic dilation of the right atrium misdiagnosed as Ebstein′s anomaly, 1 case with congenital diverticulum of the right atrium misdiagnosed as congenital enlargement of the right atrial appendage, and 1 case with congenital diverticulum of the coronary sinus misdiagnosed as coronary sinus stenosis. Conclusions CMRA could be diagnosed accurately by Doppler echocardiography, but it is prone to be misdiagnosed and must be distinguished from Ebstein′s anomaly. Key words: Echocardiography, Doppler; Congenital malformations of the right atrium

Evaluation of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Echocardiography and its Correlation with Intimal Medial Thickness of Carotid Artery

The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in measuring the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) of the patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its correlation with the intimal-medial thickness of the carotid artery (cIMT) to investigate the relationship between EAT and cIMT. 68 patients of T2DM were enrolled and were divided into 2 groups: group of T2DM with duration≤10 years (35 cases) and group of T2DM with duration>10 years (33 cases). And 30 healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group. The thickness of EAT and cIMT were measured by echocardiography and high-frequency ultrasonography. The thickness of EAT and IMT of the carotid artery of 2 type 2 diabetic groups (duration≤10 years and>10 years) were significantly higher than that of the control group (all p<0.05), and the thickness of EAT and cIMT of the group of T2DM with duration>10 years were significantly higher than that of the group of T2DM with duration≤10 years (p<0.05). In univariate analysis, the thickness of EAT was positively and significantly associated with age (r=0.412, p<0.05), BMI (r=0.566, p<0.05), waist circumference (r=0.475, p<0.05), LDL (r=0.425, p<0.05), TG (r=0.496, p<0.05), duration of diabetes (r=0.384, p<0.05) and cIMT (r=0.456, p<0.05). In multiple stepwise regression analyses, age, BMI and IMT of carotid artery were appeared to be significantly associated with EAT (p<0.05 for all). In conclusion, routine screening of EAT and cIMT by ultrasonography in type 2 diabetic patients helps us to predict cardiovascular risks and prevent further development of cardiovascular complications.

Nuclear medicine in diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis: an update.

Over the past decades cardiovascular disease management has been substantially improved by the increasing introduction of medical devices as prosthetic valves. The yearly rate of infective endocarditis (IE) in patient with a prosthetic valve is approximately 3 cases per 1,000 patients. The fatality rate of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains stable over the years, in part due to the aging of the population. The diagnostic value of echocardiography in diagnosis is operator-dependent and its sensitivity can decrease in presence of intracardiac devices and valvular prosthesis. The modified Duke criteria are considered the gold standard for diagnosing IE; their sensibility is 80%, but in clinical practice their diagnostic accuracy in PVE is lower, resulting inconclusively in nearly 30% of cases. In the last years, these new imaging modalities have gained an increasing attention because they make it possible to diagnose an IE earlier than the structural alterations occurring. Several studies have been conducted in order to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various nuclear medicine techniques in diagnosis of PVE. We performed a review of the literature to assess the available evidence on the role of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnosis of PVE.

Clinical reevaluation of the echocardiographic value in diagnosing the arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) by summarizing and comparing the electrophysiological and the imaging features.Methods The echocardiography and MRI were performed in the 65 cases of ARVC to measure the right ventricle and the free wall,noted as TTE-RV,MRI-RV and TTE-RVFW.The velocity of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TRmax) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured.The three-dimensional electric anatomical model of right ventricular was get by the Carto system,and the right ventricular area (Area-RV),the scar area (Area-Scar) was calculated.Results Twenty-seven cases (41.5 ％) was confirmed by the echocardiography,21 cases (32.3 ％) was suspiciously diagnosed,14 cases (32.3％) was miss diagnosed,and 3 cases (4.6％) was misdiagnosed.Statistically significant difference could be detected among the echocardiography confirmed groups and the other two groups for the parameters TTE-RV,MRI-RV,Area-RV,Area-Scar,and TTE-RVFW (P ＜ 0.05).Also there was a statistically significant difference of the parameters of Area-RV and Area-Scar between the suspiciously and miss diagnosed groups (P ＜0.05).Different echocardiographic findings was found in ARVC with different stages,but myocardial fibrosis and low voltage scar could be detected in all patients on the MRI imaging and and electrophysiological mapping.Conclusions The diagnosis of typical ARVC can be confirmed by echocardiography,but for the patients with early and middle stages,comprehensive evaluation should be refered to the clinical data. Key words: Echocardiography; Cardiomyopathy; Ventricular function, right; Magnetic resonance imaging

Diagnostic value of echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

AimsTo determine the value of echocardiography including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and right ventricular (RV) speckle tracking analysis for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and discrimination between pre- and postcapillary PH.Methods and Results155 consecutive patients (mean age 70.5±13.0 years, 81 [52%] male gender, BMI 27.2±6.1 kg/m2) with PH undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with TDI between January 2008 and December 2009 were retrospectively evaluated including offline speckle tracking analysis of RV contractility. After RHC 23.2% of patients (36) were diagnosed with precapillary PH. Invasive results from RHC were significantly correlated to TTE measurements (E/é, postcapillary wedge pressure [PCWP], r = 0.61, P<0.001; mean, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure [mPAP, sPAP], r = 0.43, P<0.001). Single echocardiographic parameters were of good predictive value for final PH-diagnosis (sPAP, area under the curve [AUC] 0.63, P = 0.025; lateral apical RV longitudinal strain [RVaSl)], AUC 0.76, P = 0.001; E/é, AUC 0.84, P<0.001) which could be increased by combining most predictive parameters after receiver operating curves (ROC) cut off analysis (sPAP>69 mmHg, E/é<12, RVaSl ≥−8.4%). TTE had a sensitivity of 33.33% and a specificity of 100% to identify patients with precapillary PH, and a negative predictive value of 84.72% to rule out precapilary PH.ConclusionEchocardiography allows feasible and reliable estimation of PH and seems helpful to distinguish between pre-and postcapillary PH. Further prospective studies on patients with different manifestations of PH must validate the predictive value of echocardiography in this clinical setting.

Bactériurie maternelle à streptocoque B et endocardite néonatale : à propos d’un cas

Bacterial endocarditis is rare in children. We report the case of streptococcal B endocarditis in a newborn whose mother had asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. This report emphasizes the importance of maternal intrapartum antibiotic therapy when there is a major risk of neonatal infection and underlines the diagnostic value of echocardiography in case of prolonged fever.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Heart Diseases Compared with Cardiac Catheterization

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a haemodinamic and pathophysiological condition defined as increase in mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure (PAP) ≥ 25mmHg at rest as sessed by right heart catheterization (RHC). Objective and purpose: The objective of this study is to determine, by investigating haemodynamic parameters of the pulmonary hypertension in congenital and left heart diseases, the linkage and diagnostic value of echocardiography in detecting the pulmonary hypertension in heart diseases and assessing its degree, as well as to warrant a wider application of this non-invasive diagnostic method. Patients and methods: The research covered 56 adult subjects of both genders, who were subjected to echocardiography as part of the clinical cardiological examination. The patients were examined on an ultrasound machine ATL HDI-3000 and 5000, equipped with a cardiologic probe for adults 2.25 MHz and a multi-plan transoesophageal probe ATL MPT7-4 TEE. The patients, for whom invasive cardiologic diagnostic methods were indicated following evaluation by echocardiography, were subjected to cardiac catheterization. RHC was performed in all patients and diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was established by measuring mean PAP ≥ 25mmHg at rest, also left heart catheterization was performed in order to define the underlying heart disease. The haemodynamic parameters, obtained for each method applied, have been statistically processed. Results: By the statistical processing of the echocardiographic parameters a correlation ratio has been found, which shows significant correlation between the non-invasive variables (AcT, Act/RVET, PEP/AcT, PEP/RVET and RVSP according to modified Bernoulli equation. MPAP according to Mahan’s equation, SPAP according to Berger’s equation) and the variables obtained by right heart catheterization (RHC): (RVSP, MPAP, SPAP): a) In AcT and AcT/RVET variables, a negative correlation was found AcT r = -0.936, Standard Estimation Error (SEE) = 5.53, p

Diagnostic value of echocardiography in univentricle

Objective To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosis of univentricle and analyze the sonogram typing. Methods The results of 66 patients with univentricle were reviewed retrospectively,and analayzed their typing connected with the reports in the literature. Results There were 3 ultrasonic types in 66 cases:①Type A(single left ventricle) 19 cases,single ventricle with left ventricular shape,residual cavity in front of it. ②Type B(single right ventricle) 38 cases, single ventricle with right ventricular form,and residual cavity in the rear.③Type C (solitary single-ventricle) 9 cases,there was only one ventricle. Thirty-one of them were treated surgically, 5 cases without operation had MRI or cardiac catheterization examination and the remaining 26 patients were only observed by echocardiography,the positive rate of diagnosis in type was 100%, the results were compared with cardiac catheterization or MRI examination and the operation: 1 cases of mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was misdiagnosed as heart-type total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. But 1 case of descending aorta limitations narrow complicated patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), PDA was missed. The rest were completely correct diagnosis. Conclusions The transthoracic echocardiography can be used to evaluate types and all containing malformations of univentricle,and offers reliable information for operation. Key words: Echocardiograghy; Heart defects,congenital; Single ventricle

Characteristics and diagnostic value of echocardiography of patients with coronary heart disease

Objective:To observe the echocardiography characteristics of patients with coronary heart disease(CHD),and to discuss the diagnostic value of their echocardiography for CHD.Methods:From Jan.2002 to Dec.2006,a total of 276 patients with suspected CHD were examined by echocardiography;190 patients also underwent coronary arteriography(CA) and 85 of them served as controls.The consistence between echocardiography results and CA results was analyzed.The abnormal echocardiography manifestations of the rest 105 patients were analyzed based on the stenoses and occlusion degrees revealed by CA.Results:The diagnostic consistent rate of routine echocardiographic examination was 90.6% compared with that of CA.The false positive and negative rates were both 4.7%.The echocardiographic features of CHD included the reduction of left ventricular diastolic function(74.4%),the left ventricle enlargement(23.2%),the left atrium enlargement(16.3%),and the reduction of left ventricular systolic function(9.3%).The echocardiographic features of coronary artery stenosis and occlusion included the reduction of left ventricular diastolic function(92.3%),the left ventricle enlargement(9.5%),the reduction of left ventricular systolic function(8.57%),and the reduction of E/A ratio.More diseased branches was associated with lower E/A ratio.The E/A ratios of patients with 1,2,3 and 4 diseased branches were 0.78,0.66,0.64 and 0.61,respectively;the difference of E/A ratios of different groups was significantly different(P0.05).Conclusion:Routine echocardiographic examination has a high consistent rate with CA in diagnosis of CHD,and it is suitable for popularizing in grass-root hospitals.Reduction of left ventricular diastolic function is the main echocardiographic feature of CHD,and more attention should be paid on related parameters,but the influence of arrhythmia and other factors should be ruled out.

Echocardiographic evaluation of crisscross heart

To explore atrioventricular connection and atrioventricular segmental situs in patients with crisscross heart (CCH) and to evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography for this anomaly. Ten consecutive patients with crisscross heart were enrolled into this retrospective study. Their echocardiographic data were analyzed and compared with the results of X-ray angiocardiography and 64-slice multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) or MRI. The crossing of atrioventricular valves could be seen in each case by scanning in a subxiphoid or apical 4-chamber view. Both the positive rate and the specificity were 100%. Horizontal ventricular septum was in 9 cases and vertical (sagittal) ventricular septum in 1 case. The segmental set of 8 patients with concordant atrioventricular connection was {S. D. L} in 5 cases, {S. D. D} 1 case, {S. D. S} 1 case and {S. L. D} 1 case. The segmental set of 1 case with discordant atrioventricular connection was {I. D. D} and another 1 case with ambiguous atrioventricular connection was {A. L. L}. In 1 case, the atrioventricular connection was inconsistent with the atrioventricular segmental situs. Ventriculoarterial connections were concordant in 1, DORV in 6, TGA in 2 and C-TGA in 1. Echocardiography is proven quite helpful in diagnosis of CCH, and continuous sweeps in subxiphoid long-axis plane or apical 4-chamber view play a key role. Both the atrioventricular connection and the atrioventricular segmental situs are complicated so that they are not always concordance with each other. It is necessary to account for separately.

1120 Diagnostic value of echocardiography for primary cardiac tumors in infancy and childhood:a 20-year experience

1120 Diagnostic value of echocardiography for primary cardiac tumors in infancy and childhood:a 20-year experience