Two-dimensional and doppler echocardiographic abnormalities in idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery

Abstract

Although idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery is uncommon, it requires to be distinguished from other important congenital heart diseases for which it may be confused clinically. We describe the two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiographic findings in two patients with this condition. Enlargement of the main pulmonary artery and right ventricle was demonstrated in both patients using 2D echocardiography. Pulmonary regurgitation was confirmed in Case 1 by both pulsed-Doppler echocardiographic and Doppler colour flow imaging studies and in Case 2 by microbubbles (which were generated from saline-injection into a peripheral vein) oscillating up and down across the pulmonary valve in systole and diastole respectively.