[Contribution of M-mode echocardiography and myocardial scintigraphy for study of ECG pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves (author's transl)].

Eight normotensive patients with electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves were studied with Thallium-201 imaging and M-mode echocardiography. In all the patients Thallium scanning demonstrated increased thickness of the left ventricular walls. In five of the above cases areas of increased uptake were noted in the apical region which had increased thickness as compared to the rest of the left ventricular wall. Echocardiography showed in one subject obstructive hypertrophic myocardiopathy and in another two asymmetric septal hypertrophy. In the remaining patients there was always present septal and posterior wall hypertrophy. Reliable echocardiograms of the apex were done in five subjects and in these hypertrophy was noted. The results of the two techniques were compared and correlated clinically and with the literature. The authors conclude in agreement with other studies that the picture of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves is indicative of hypertrophic myocardiopathies. Specifically, for us, the apical hypertrophy may be the only feature of the myocardiopathy or be part of a generalized left ventricular hypertrophy which is usually asymmetric septal hypertrophy.