Quantitative determination of left ventricular size using echocardiography

Echocardiography makes it possible to examine the mass of the left ventricle both by a two-dimensional and one-dimensional approach. The method of one-dimensional echocardiography is simpler and more accurate than two-dimensional echocardiography. There are two most frequently used conventions for assessment of the thickness of the wall and the diameters of its cavity: 1. the method of the American echocardiographic society, 2. the Penn-convention. The latter correlates better with left ventricular mass assessed on autopsy. The prerequisite for use of one-dimensional echocardiography is that the mass of the left ventricle is evenly distributed along the whole circumference. This assumption must be assessed in advance by two-dimensional echocardiography and it is necessary to eliminate from examinations those patients where the left ventricle is geometrically impaired. The authors mention also other limitations of one-dimensional echocardiography when used for assessment of left ventricular mass. The mass of the left ventricle is an independent risk factor and indicator of elevated morbidity and mortality in arterial hypertension and therefore its assessment is very important in clinical practice. The authors present their own observations of dynamic serial examinations used to assess the mass of the left ventricle in a female patient with pheochromocytoma and its total regression after radical surgery.