Which echocardiographic findings are suggestive of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the interventricular septum, which can lead to various hemodynamic consequences, including obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The key echocardiographic finding indicative of HCM is asymmetric septal hypertrophy, which involves greater thickening of the septal wall compared to the lateral wall. This asymmetric pattern is crucial in diagnosing the condition.

Additionally, in many patients with HCM, dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurs during the ejection phase of the cardiac cycle. This obstruction can result from both the hypertrophied muscle and the positioning of the mitral valve, which can contribute to increased velocity across the outflow tract during systole. The presence of both asymmetric septal hypertrophy and the accompanying dynamic obstruction is a classic echocardiographic hallmark of HCM and is vital for accurate diagnosis and management.

The other echocardiographic findings presented do not align with the typical characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For example, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy without obstruction does not typically indicate HCM, as it suggests a different pathophysiological process, often related to pressure overload states like