Can an MRI detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
In recent years magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become established as an important tool for the evaluation of suspected HCM as it can reliably establish the diagnosis, help distinguish HCM from other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and identify those patients at greatest risk of SCD.
Can an MRI detect cardiomyopathy?
A cardiac MRI can help diagnose problems such as coronary artery diseases, pericardial diseases (diseases affecting the outside lining of the heart), heart tumors, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, and even provide images of your pumping cycle.
How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy detected?
An echocardiogram is commonly used to diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This test uses sound waves (ultrasound) to see if your heart’s muscle is abnormally thick. It also shows how well your heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood.
What are the symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy?
Signs and symptoms of HCM include:
- Chest pain, especially with physical exertion.
- Shortness of breath, especially with physical exertion.
- Fatigue.
- Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
- Dizziness.
- Lightheadedness.
- Fainting (syncope)
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and veins in the neck.
Why does hypertension increase left ventricular size?
Your heart muscle cells may get larger in response to some factor that causes the left ventricle to work harder, such as high blood pressure or a heart condition. As the left ventricle’s workload increases, the muscle tissue in the chamber wall thickens. Sometimes, the size of the chamber itself also increases.
Is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy concentric?
Concentric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a circumferential fairly symmetrically increased myocardial wall thickness (≥15 mm) without significant differences between the walls or segments 5.
Does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy show up on echocardiogram?
Abstract. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is diagnosed on the basis of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy for which there is insufficient explanation (e.g. mild hypertension or mild aortic stenosis with marked hypertrophy). Echocardiography is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with HCM.
How serious is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
The thickened heart muscle can eventually become too stiff to effectively fill the heart with blood. As a result, your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Sudden cardiac death. Rarely, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause heart-related sudden death in people of all ages.