To investigate the left ventricular hypertrophic patterns and wall motion dynamics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 51 patients were studied using electron beam computed tomography. The subject consisted of 26 asymmetrical hypertrophy, 9 diffuse hypertrophy, 14 apical hypertrophy and 2 papillary muscle hypertrophy. Concerning the wall motion dynamics in hypertrophic wall, 7 demonstrated homogeneous wall thickening involving the non-hypertrophic wall, 36 showed decreased wall thickening, 6 showed normal wall thickening, and 2 cases of papillary muscle hypertrophy had increased wall thickening in the apical wall. The percent wall thickening in hypertrophic wall was significantly reduced in relation to the increase of wall thickness; 14±8% in the wall over 20 mm, 23±12% in 16-19 mm and 56±36% in 13-15 mm. The reduced wall motion dynamics in hypertrophic wall were clearly observed by electron beam computed tomography.
(Internal Medicine 36: 263-269, 1997)