Usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in diagnosing right ventricular hypertrophy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiographic (2D echo) measurements in diagnosing right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH). These measurements of the right atrium and the ventricle were made in 15 patients with right ventricular hypertrophy and in 11 normal subjects and were as follows: right atrium long axis 2.13 +/- 0.42 vs 1.36 +/- 0.11 cm/m2 (p less than 0.001); right atrium short axis 2.78 +/- 0.60 vs 2.06 +/- 0.26 cm/m2 (p less than 0.001); right atrial area 8.81 +/- 2.79 vs 4.00 +/- 0.33 cm2/m2 (p less than 0.001); right ventricular long axis 4.65 +/- 0.64 vs 3.27 +/- 0.49 cm/m2 (p less than 0.001); and right ventricular area 13.02 +/- 3.64 versus 6.19 +/- 0.74 cm2/m2 (p less than 0.001). The 2D echo right atrial area and long axis had a sensitivity and specificity of 100 percent in the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy. We conclude that 2D echo is useful in the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy.