Systematic approach to evaluating patients with incidental left ventricular hypertrophy

In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications volume 4, issue 1, pp. 43-51(9); DOI https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2019.0011, Darrell B. Newman, MD, John P. Bois, MD and Jeffrey B. Geske, MD, from the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA consider evaluation of patients with incidental left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography.

LVH is a common, albeit nonspecific, manifestation of multiple cardiac disorders. Prompt recognition of the underlying diagnosis has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. Integrating the various, and often subtle, findings on clinical examination and multimodality imaging is essential to distinguishing the different causes, and a methodical approach can help streamline the diagnostic evaluation of these patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), or an increase in cardiac mass, usually reflects pathologic adaptation to chronic pressure or volume loads. Physiologic adaptation in athletes as well as genetic, metabolic, and infiltrative disorders may also result in increased cardiac mass. Given vast differences in prognosis and therapeutic options associated with different underlying conditions, the evaluation of patients with LVH necessitates a modern, comprehensive evaluation incorporating multimodality imaging. Herein the authors present a systematic approach to patients with incidental LVH.