heart and blood vessel disorders
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Diagnosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Echocardiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart Doctors usually suspect the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on the person's symptoms and the results of a physical examination, electrocardiography (ECG), and a chest x-ray. The heart sounds and any murmurs heard through a stethoscope may be helpful. Although ECG and echocardiography are not recommended for all young competitive athletes, all such Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes for risk factors that indicate the need for further testing. Echocardiography and Other Ultrasound Procedures is the best way to confirm the diagnosis, but Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography , an invasive procedure in which a catheter is threaded from a blood vessel in the arm, neck, or leg into the heart, is often done to measure pressures in the heart chambers and the degree to which blood flow from the left ventricle is blocked due to the thickened walls. Because hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually caused by a gene mutation, genetic testing may also be done to help identify affected relatives. 