The echocardiographic examination has, similar to ECG, its role primarily in stratification and observation of patients´ state of health and it has a role even in the exclusion of other symptoms and cardiac dysfunction causes [24, 96, 98, 99, 100]. There are a number of described findings and the diagnosis of myocarditis is not excluded even by normal ECHO finding [99, 100]. There may be observed for example following findings – regional or global impairment of the left and/or right ventricular kinetics, heart chambers dilatation, pericardial effusion and decreased diastolic and global systolic left and/or right function. In fulminant myocarditis, often thickening of the left ventricular walls without the ventricular dilatation may be observed. In ICMP, except the decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, dilatation is also present according to the references. Thickening of the left ventricular walls is not commonly present [16, 29, 99]. There are described even findings of thrombi in the heart chambers, signs of pulmonary hypertension or secondary mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation when the left and/or right ventricles are dilated [99, 104, 105].
Chest X-Ray may visualize cardiomegaly and bigger pericardial effusion, pleural effusion or congestion in the pulmonary circulation [43, consultation with Adla, M.D.]. The finding may be even normal [43].
Author of the opening picture: Kalumet
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References:
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24) CAFORIO, A.L.P, PANKUWEIT S., ARBUSTINI E., et al. Current state knowledge on aetiology, diagnosis, management, and Therapy of myocarditis: a position statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Disease. European Heart Journal. 2013, 34(-), 2636–2648.
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100) KREJČÍ, J. Myokarditidy a zánětlivé kardiomyopatie. Kardiologická Revue Interní Medicína. 2015, 17(4), 288-294.
104) FERRI, F. F. a et al. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2015: 5 Books in 1 [online]. -. USA: Elsevier, 2015 [cit. 2017-02-27]. pp. 807-809. ISBN 978-0-323-08375-1.
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