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Pericardial thickening, when assessed in cardiac ultrasound, refers to an abnormal increase in the thickness of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. This condition often results from chronic inflammation, infection, or radiation therapy, leading to a rigid, less pliable pericardial sac. Early detection via echocardiography is crucial for managing symptoms like shortness of breath…

An LV thrombus, or left ventricular thrombus, is a blood clot that forms inside the left ventricle of the heart, often a complication of myocardial infarction (heart attack) or dilated cardiomyopathy. This "cardiac ultrasound" finding is crucial as these clots can dislodge and travel to other parts of the body, leading to serious complications like…

Epicardial fat pad refers to adipose tissue located between the visceral pericardium and the myocardium, predominantly found around the right ventricle and along the major coronary arteries. In cardiac ultrasound, it appears as an echogenic (bright) layer surrounding the heart. Its presence and thickness can be evaluated to assess cardiovascular risk. Understanding epicardial fat in…

Aortic regurgitation (AR), or aortic insufficiency, is a cardiac condition where the aortic valve fails to close properly, causing blood to leak backward from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. This extra volume workload on the left ventricle can lead to its enlargement and, over time, heart failure. Accurate diagnosis and severity assessment…

A cardiac myxoma, commonly identified through ultrasound (US) findings, is the most prevalent type of primary heart tumor. These non-cancerous growths typically originate in the left atrium, appearing as a heterogeneous, often mobile mass with variable echogenicity on echocardiography. Early detection via cardiac ultrasound is crucial for diagnosis and to prevent complications such as embolic…

Cardiac output (CO) estimation via ultrasound is a non-invasive method to assess the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute. This crucial cardiac measurement is derived by combining stroke volume (blood ejected per beat) with heart rate, offering vital insights into a patient's hemodynamic status. Ultrasound techniques, like Doppler imaging, measure blood flow…

Fractional shortening (FS) is a key echocardiographic parameter in cardiac ultrasound, quantifying the percentage change in left ventricular (LV) diameter from end-diastole to end-systole. It serves as a crucial non-invasive measure of global left ventricular systolic function, providing insights into the heart's pumping efficiency. Clinicians use FS to assess cardiac contractility and monitor heart health,…

Stroke volume (SV) estimation in cardiac ultrasound is a non-invasive method to quantify the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each heartbeat. This critical measurement is fundamental to assessing cardiac function and hemodynamics, often calculated by multiplying the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) velocity time integral (VTI) by the LVOT cross-sectional area.…

Diastolic dysfunction, a critical term in cardiac ultrasound, refers to the heart's impaired ability to properly relax and fill with blood during diastole. This condition, often caused by stiffening of the left ventricular muscle, leads to elevated filling pressures and can result in symptoms of heart failure, even with preserved ejection fraction. Early detection via…