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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Different Echo results
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Different Echo results
by navyard, Jun 15, 2004 12:00AM
In 2001 I had my first echo. I had mild mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation of all 4 valves. A year later I had another one which said I had mild mitral valve prolapse and trival regugitation of 3 valves. I just had another echo last month and it doesn't say anything about mitral valve prolapse and I have trivial regurgitation of only the mitral valve. The heart measurements have all increased in the most recent one. The first echo was done at a different facility than the last two. My question is can the results change this much or is it all in the interpretation? How do you know which one is accurate?
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Jun 15, 2004 12:00AM
, Jun 15, 2004 12:00AM
navyard,
thanks for the post.
1) My question is can the results change this much or is it all in the interpretation? How do you know which one is accurate?
From the way it sounds this sounds pretty close and withing the window of interrader variability. Remember, these are interpretations of the pictures, so there is some variability between readers. The important thing is that minor variations really carry no significance and what is more important is significant progression over time. Both readers are probably correct. You should discuss the result fo both studies with whomever your primary physician is now to ensure this is the case.
good luck
thanks for the post.
1) My question is can the results change this much or is it all in the interpretation? How do you know which one is accurate?
From the way it sounds this sounds pretty close and withing the window of interrader variability. Remember, these are interpretations of the pictures, so there is some variability between readers. The important thing is that minor variations really carry no significance and what is more important is significant progression over time. Both readers are probably correct. You should discuss the result fo both studies with whomever your primary physician is now to ensure this is the case.
good luck
