Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

In which condition is the echocardiogram most likely to show increased left ventricular mass?

1. A. aortic stenosis

2. B. mitral regurgitation

3. C. hypertension

4. D. constrictive pericarditis

The correct answer is: C. hypertension

An echocardiogram showing increased left ventricular mass is most commonly associated with hypertension. This condition leads to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as the heart muscle thickens in response to the increased workload it faces due to elevated systemic blood pressure. The left ventricle must generate more force to pump blood against higher pressure in the arteries, causing the ventricular walls to adapt by becoming thicker. While aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation can also lead to changes in the left ventricle, they typically do so through distinct mechanisms, such as pressure overload and volume overload respectively. Constrictive pericarditis generally leads to diastolic dysfunction and may see normal or decreased left ventricular mass, depending on the chronicity and severity of the condition, thus it is less likely to be associated with increased muscle mass compared to hypertension. In summary, the echocardiogram indicates increased left ventricular mass prominently in cases of hypertension due to the physiological response of the heart to chronic high blood pressure.