Normal Variants in Echocardiography

Curr Cardiol Rep. 2016 Nov;18(11):104. doi: 10.1007/s11886-016-0786-x.

Abstract

Echocardiography is a powerful and convenient tool used routinely in the cardiac evaluation of many patients. Improved resolution and visualization of cardiac anatomy has led to the discovery of many normal variant structures that have no known pathologic consequence. Importantly, these findings may masquerade as pathology prompting unnecessary further evaluation at the expense of anxiety, cost, or potential harm. This review provides an updated and comprehensive collection of normal anatomic variants on both transthoracic and transesophageal imaging.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Normal variant.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / instrumentation*
  • Heart Atria / anatomy & histology
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Diseases / pathology
  • Heart Valves / anatomy & histology
  • Heart Valves / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Valves / pathology
  • Heart Ventricles / anatomy & histology
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Radiation Exposure / prevention & control*
  • Unnecessary Procedures