Introduction While echocardiography is, of course, critical in the evaluation of primary diseases of the heart, it is an equally important tool in identifying and monitoring the cardiovascular sequelae of systemic diseases and their treatment. Many of these are discussed…
Introduction Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection of the heart that, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, is associated with in-hospital and 1-year mortalities of approximately 20% and 40%, respectively. IE is also associated with major morbidity with embolic…
Introduction Among cardiac masses, the three most common types are tumors, thrombi, and vegetation. However, there are a variety of other structures that can be misinterpreted as cardiac tumors. These include normal anatomic structures or variants of the heart, abnormal…
Introduction Intracardiac thrombi represent a subset of cardiac sources of embolism, are common in a variety of cardiac disease states, and account for 15%–20% of the 500,000 annual strokes in the United States. In addition, they are important sources of…
Introduction The first demonstration of a left atrial myxoma by ultrasound occurred in Germany in 1959. Since then echocardiography has evolved to become the usual initial modality for detecting a cardiac tumor. Cardiac neoplasms are found in only 1%–2% of…
Introduction The echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) must include an appreciation of the interaction between the load imposed on the ventricle by the increased resistance of the pulmonary arteries and the contractile force of the right ventricle (RV). It…
Introduction Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, accounting for over 50,000 deaths per year in the United States. PE coexists with other cardiac and pulmonary diseases and remains a diagnosis that continues to elude clinicians. Indeed,…
Introduction An evaluation of the aorta is a routine part of the standard echocardiographic examination. Indeed, aortic pathology is often first discovered on an echocardiogram that was ordered for other indications. Anatomy, Nomenclature, and Dimensions The thoracic aorta is divided…
Introduction The pericardium is a thin-walled structure composed of two layers, a serous visceral layer (epicardium) and a fibrous parietal layer, both of which surround and protect the heart. Between these layers, up to 50 mL of pericardial fluid normally…
Introduction Since the development and implantation of the first transcatheter pulmonic and aortic valves, there has been a rapid acceptance of transcatheter valve implantation as a solution to high-risk or inoperable patients with severe, symptomatic valve disease. Randomized trials have…