Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does Sigmoid Septum Without Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction Mean?
Question: We have a family history of HCM on my paternal side. My father 56, myself 28 and my brother 26 years got tested by echocardiogram and our reports were all normal, no HCM.
However, my brother's report also mentioned sigmoid septum without left ventricular outflow obstruction and no LVH.
I looked sigmoid septum up and it seems to be normal in the elderly and my brother is only 26 years old. Doc said normal.
So i took him for a second opinion with another cardiologist who repeated echocardiogram and did ecg. ECG was normal and echocardiogram showed no sign of HCM, but doctor also noted sigmoid septum, but he said it is very very little (1mm) that it can only be visible when you really concentrate and its nothing and he doesn't have HCM. Is this generally seen in normal hearts of young people ?
I am still worried as this seems to be common in elderly and i an afraid it is a sign if HCM.
My brother lefts weights, takes pre-workout supplement (no x-plode), takes daily whey protein shake, and smokes around 5 cigarets a day for around 8 to 10 years now.
Would any of these things lead go a sigmoid septum ?
However, my brother's report also mentioned sigmoid septum without left ventricular outflow obstruction and no LVH.
I looked sigmoid septum up and it seems to be normal in the elderly and my brother is only 26 years old. Doc said normal.
So i took him for a second opinion with another cardiologist who repeated echocardiogram and did ecg. ECG was normal and echocardiogram showed no sign of HCM, but doctor also noted sigmoid septum, but he said it is very very little (1mm) that it can only be visible when you really concentrate and its nothing and he doesn't have HCM. Is this generally seen in normal hearts of young people ?
I am still worried as this seems to be common in elderly and i an afraid it is a sign if HCM.
My brother lefts weights, takes pre-workout supplement (no x-plode), takes daily whey protein shake, and smokes around 5 cigarets a day for around 8 to 10 years now.
Would any of these things lead go a sigmoid septum ?
Brief Answer:
Don't worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Relatives of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may have some small changes, such as sygmoid septum or mild LV hypertrophy, but it is not mandatory that they will develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well. In the case of your brother there is no LV hypertrophy, the thickness of septum is normal, there is only a mention about sygmoid septum. At this point there is nothing serious, he just need to have an echocardiography once a year.
In the other hand intensive weight lifting and use of such supplements may also lead to sygmoid septum.
I would advise you to encourage him not to take any supplement, not to smoke and undergo echocardiography once a year in experienced center.
Take care
Come back if you have any further questions
Don't worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Relatives of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may have some small changes, such as sygmoid septum or mild LV hypertrophy, but it is not mandatory that they will develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well. In the case of your brother there is no LV hypertrophy, the thickness of septum is normal, there is only a mention about sygmoid septum. At this point there is nothing serious, he just need to have an echocardiography once a year.
In the other hand intensive weight lifting and use of such supplements may also lead to sygmoid septum.
I would advise you to encourage him not to take any supplement, not to smoke and undergo echocardiography once a year in experienced center.
Take care
Come back if you have any further questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
i was not aware that relatives of people with HCM will have a sigmoid septum. Is sigmoid septum related to HCM or a sign of it ?
Do you usually see young normal hearts with sigmoid septum ? And if so how often ?
I read that hypertensive patiens may develop sigmoid septum. My brother's blood pressure was normal. Would supplements and smoking cause a temporary increase in his blood pressue enough to affect his heart in this way ?
Do you usually see young normal hearts with sigmoid septum ? And if so how often ?
I read that hypertensive patiens may develop sigmoid septum. My brother's blood pressure was normal. Would supplements and smoking cause a temporary increase in his blood pressue enough to affect his heart in this way ?
Brief Answer:
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Sygmoid septum is not considered an abnormality as long as there is no hypertrophy of the septum and LV outflow tract obstruction. Usually we see sygmoid septum in elderly patients with hypertension. Sometimes we may see it among adults as well, especially who does intensive weight lifting or boxing. Steroids and protein supplements may also lead to LV hypertrophy and/ or sygmoid septum, in this case high blood pressure is not mandatory. And relatives of HCM patients may have sygmoid septum, but never develop HCM. Sygmoid septum is not related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy unless it's thickness is more than 15 mm, in echo report you have provided, it is only 9 mm, so don't worry, especially if your brother has no complaints.
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Sygmoid septum is not considered an abnormality as long as there is no hypertrophy of the septum and LV outflow tract obstruction. Usually we see sygmoid septum in elderly patients with hypertension. Sometimes we may see it among adults as well, especially who does intensive weight lifting or boxing. Steroids and protein supplements may also lead to LV hypertrophy and/ or sygmoid septum, in this case high blood pressure is not mandatory. And relatives of HCM patients may have sygmoid septum, but never develop HCM. Sygmoid septum is not related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy unless it's thickness is more than 15 mm, in echo report you have provided, it is only 9 mm, so don't worry, especially if your brother has no complaints.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the informative answer.
When measuring the IVS using echocardiogram, is the bulge of the septum (the sigmoid septum) measured to determine the thickness of the IVS ?
Is basal septal hyoertrophy the same as sigmoid septum ?
My brother's report also mentions the airtic valve is slightly thickened. What does this indicate and what could cause it ?
When measuring the IVS using echocardiogram, is the bulge of the septum (the sigmoid septum) measured to determine the thickness of the IVS ?
Is basal septal hyoertrophy the same as sigmoid septum ?
My brother's report also mentions the airtic valve is slightly thickened. What does this indicate and what could cause it ?
Brief Answer:
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Sigmoid septum means that interventricular septum is like the letter S, hypertrophy is not mandatory. Usually in such cases we measure septal thickness in different levels to detect hypertrophy, in your report there is nothing about hypertrophy, so we can consider that your doctor hasn't measured abnormal values. In majority of cases of sigmoid septum there is basal hypertrophy.
Slightly thickened aortic valve is not serious, don't worry about it, it is clinically not significant.
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Sigmoid septum means that interventricular septum is like the letter S, hypertrophy is not mandatory. Usually in such cases we measure septal thickness in different levels to detect hypertrophy, in your report there is nothing about hypertrophy, so we can consider that your doctor hasn't measured abnormal values. In majority of cases of sigmoid septum there is basal hypertrophy.
Slightly thickened aortic valve is not serious, don't worry about it, it is clinically not significant.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So if sigmoid septum basal hypertrophy is present is this considered part of HCM hypertrophy ? Would thay call it asymmetrical hypertrophic cardiopathy or is that different ?
Brief Answer:
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Basal hypertrophy is not hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For hypertrophic cardiomyopathy septal thickness should be more than 15-17 mm.
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Basal hypertrophy is not hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For hypertrophic cardiomyopathy septal thickness should be more than 15-17 mm.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
