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Cardiac structure growth pattern determined by echocardiography
Insights
This study established normal M-mode echocardiography reference ranges for pediatric cardiac dimensions. These findings provide wider tolerance limits for quantitative echocardiography in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Biometry
Background:
- Establishing normative data for echocardiographic measurements is crucial for diagnosing pediatric heart conditions.
- Previous studies have provided reference ranges, but wider applicability in diverse pediatric populations is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish M-mode echocardiography reference ranges for cardiac dimensions in healthy infants and children.
- To define 90% tolerance limits for these measurements relative to body surface area.
Main Methods:
- M-mode echocardiography was performed on 93 healthy infants and children.
- Measurements included ventricular walls/cavities, great vessels, left atrium, and atrioventricular valve excursions.
- Data were normalized to body surface area (m²) and 90% tolerance limits were calculated.
Main Results:
- Wider tolerance lines for echocardiographic dimensions were observed compared to previous reports.
- Reference ranges at birth and maturity aligned with established neonatal and adult normal values.
- The calculated tolerance lines offer a quantitative basis for echocardiographic assessment in childhood.
Conclusions:
- The derived tolerance lines for normal pediatric echocardiographic data can be utilized for quantitative assessments.
- This study provides updated, broader reference standards for M-mode echocardiography in pediatric populations.
- These quantitative measures support accurate interpretation of cardiac structure and function in children.
Abstract:
Using M-mode echocardiography, we measured dimensions of the ventricular walls and cavities, great vessels, and left atrium and atrioventricular valve excursions on 93 infants and children without heart disease. The data were analyzed by relating each dimension in mm to body surface area in m2 and the 90% tolerance limits for the data were calculated. The tolerance lines of the data were wider than previously recorded. At birth and maturity they were similar to the range defined as normal by studies in neonates and adults. We suggest that the tolerance lines of these normal data may be used for quantitative echocardiography in childhood.