Suprasternal notch echocardiography determination of right pulmonary artery lesions

Objective To evaluate the value of suprasternal long axis view in echocardiography for right pulmonary artery (RPA) lesions.Methods Echocardiography was performed in 31 patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary vascular disease.Through suprasternal long axis view,RPA,right superior pulmonary artery and right inferior pulmonary artery were identified,and the vessel wall,intraluminal echoes,and location of the lesion were obtained.Blood flow in pulmonary artery was detected with color Doppler flow imaging.The results of echocardiography were compared with those of computer tomography of pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and clinical diagnosis.Results With suprasternal notch echocardiography,RPA lesions were identified in 27 patients.H owever,RPA could not be clearly identified in four patients.There were 22 patients with moderate or low echo mass in RPA,and five patients with intimal thickening and artery stenosis/obliteration.In the 27 patients with detected lesions,20 lesions were located in RPA,seven lesions were located in distal RPA or its branches.Among the results obtained with echocardiography,25 were in accordance with CT results,6 were not in accordance with CT results.Conclusions The suprasternal long axis view of RPA can be an important alternative imaging modality in identification of pulmonary vascular diseases. Key words: Echocardiography;  Pulmonary artery;  Suprasternal notch view;  Pulmonary vascular disease