Impact of second harmonic imaging on the determination of the global and regional left ventricular function by 2D echocardiography: a comparison with MIBI gated SPECT.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of second harmonic (SH) compared to fundamental mode (FM) imaging on the echocardiographic determination of ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion score index (WMSI), using MIBI gated SPECT as an independent reference.

Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients underwent an echocardiography study and a MIBI gated SPECT over 24 hours. EF was estimated visually (estimated-E) and was calculated with the Simpson biplane method (Tracing-T), for both FM and SH.

Tricuspid stenosis: a rare complication of pacemaker-related endocarditis.

We report a case of recurrent pacemaker lead endocarditis as the cause of acquired tricuspid stenosis. The diagnosis was made noninvasively by 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. The case was further complicated by a paradoxical septic embolism through a patent foramen ovale.

Pelvic congestion syndrome: demonstration and diagnosis by helical CT.

Pelvic pain is a common gynaecological complaint, sometimes without any obvious etiology. We report a case of pelvic congestion syndrome, an often overlooked cause of pelvic pain, diagnosed by helical computed tomography. This seems to be an effective and noninvasive imaging modality.