[Echocardiographic studies before and after a 100-mile race on 21 female athletes]

Two-dimensional echocardiography can provide better information than conventional radiological volume measurements concerning the amount of hypertrophy and dilatation, which contribute to the cardiac enlargement found in athletes. Linear cardiac measurements in standardised planes were obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography; the findings in 21 women athletes obtained before and after a 100-mile race were compared with a number of normals. All cardiac chambers were found to be equally enlarged and the aortic root and the ascending aorta were dilated. The generalised dilatation of the heart must be due to increased ejection volume in these athletes.