[M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography in subjects with suspected infective endocarditis. Report of 4 cases...

4 hospitalized patients with valvular disease or prosthetic valves clinically suspected for infective endocarditis, were studied. The diagnostic contributions of echocardiography are reported. In fact this technique allows evidencing valvular vegetations with the possibility to clearly define their locations and dimensions, providing important data on the function of the affected structures. In particular the value of renal time cross sectional echocardiography is stressed. In fact this technique provided more detailed and specific images when compared with the M-mode tracings. All the echocardiographic results were compared with the surgical and/or autoptic data. In conclusion the importance of the echocardiographic approach in the study of valvular diseases is referred, stressing the utility of real time cross-sectional technique.