Abstract
An approach by quantifying the echoes arising from hypertrophied myocardium, is described in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy of various causes, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Amplitude of echoes judged by pixel count was significantly increased in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension and aortic stenosis as compared with normals and athletes with a comparable increase in left ventricular mass. It is suggested that the increase in echo intensity reflects an increase in myocardial collagen content.