I have severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. My echo done two days ago state:pulmonary pressures 128mmhgright ventricle moderately dilated and moderately hypertrophied with moderate RV hypokineticsmall LV cavityRVIDD 28mmLved 39mmLvsd  20mm My question is this:  On previous echoes, my right ventricle has been 33-34-35 mm at different times. This was said to be mild dilatation. Then it went to 31mm and they said it was not dilated on last echo, three months ago. Now this time it is 28mm and it is said to be moderately dilated. I dont understand. Could you please explain this to me?Thanks, Susan
Dear Susan, There are two ways to measure right ventricular dimensions. They measure from different places, and there are different cuts of values for each measurement. Most probably the last time they measured right ventricular size from apical view, so 31 mm was quite normal finding, and this time they measured from paternal view, so it is dilated, so the absolute value is small but for that view it is dilated. We shouldn't forget, that our heart is a 3D geometrical structure, that's why it depends on which diameter we take, and there are different values for different cut planes. Take fearsome back if you have any further questions