Echocardiogram Comparisons

Echo 2001
Left Atrial Size 4.0
Aortic Root 3.1

Left ventricle internal diastole 5.7
"      "           "          systole  3.3
All left ventricle function normal

Regional Wall Motion Normal

Trace Mitral Valve insufficiency
Aortic Valve Normal
Right side Trace pulmonic insufficiency
Trace Tricuspid Insufficiency
Comments: Normal left ventricular function, normal mitral leaflet thickness & motion.


Echo cardio 2009

Left Atrial Size 3.8 cm
Aortic Root Size  2.9 cm

Wall Motion Normal
Mildly Dilated Left ventricular cavity
EF 55%
No significate valve abnormalities

[kenkeith]

You have a good report regarding your echo test.  Normal size for LV cavity after the filling phase is 3.5 to 5.7 cm...your 5.7 cm is within the normal range.  Also, dimensions are an estimate.  For instance in 2001 your aortic root was 3.1, and the recent echo shows 2.9 cm...the difference may be within the margin of error for an estimate.

[Trackermom]

But ah that begs the question which one is the right one :)

My CT showed 4 cm ascending aorta on a Friday but on Sunday the echo-cardiogram showed what is posted above 3.8.
Echo's are so tied to how good the tech is and the person interrupts them.
The angles, where they measure.

Like I blathered in my thread "Multiple ?'s about AAA" : last post. I am hopeful that this recent stuff is just an anomaly and will be straightened out with the exercise stress test on Monday.
But till I get another CT I may not be satisfied because ECG's seem to have a larger margin of error. (Is that correct?)

Thank you btw for taking the time to post.  It is greatly appreciated in this stressful time where my emotional can interfere with the better part of my logic.




  

[nickppatel]

To be honest, I think you are over-analyzing this a bit.  Readings of 3.8 and 4.0 (regardless of whether it's CT or echo) are essentially the same.  It's not an exact science but rather they are estimates.  You can safely assume that this part of your aorta is approximately 3.9 cm or so, perhaps closer to 4.0 given the higher accuracy of CT.  BUT IT IS JUST AS POSSIBLE that your aorta at this location measures 3.8cm or even slightly above 4.0cm.  Again, it's an estimate and you shouldn't kill yourself trying to split hairs over 1-2 mm this way or that.  

And I second kenkeith, all else looks fine to me and the echos look fairly consistent with each other.

Does this answer your question .. ?

[Trackermom]

Yes.  I've calmed down because that means I have been the same (within mm) since 2001.

So could this be my normal?

I'll ALWAYS have questions. It's part of my charm ;)

[Trackermom]

It seems, from reading patient stories, that change happens with 5 years.
I am sure the rate of change in size is highly individual, but what are the averages?  I can't seem to find anything.

A person (me) is relatively unchanged in almost 9 years where does that put me in the hall of averages for ascending aorta dilation?

[nickppatel]

Avg change in a normal person is 1 mm every 10 yrs

[Trackermom]

I just got my echo from 12/1997- When I was in the ER with SVT-

The Left Ventriccal is 3.7
Aortic Root 2.8

If you refer to the previous posts above, the numbers are rather close.

So that is 12 years without an increase.  Can't wait till I get the stress test on Monday and the results on the 29th.

Thoughts?