Differential Diagnosis for Septal Thickening on Echo
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Thrombus (blood clot): This is a common cause of septal thickening on echocardiography, as a blood clot can form on the septum, leading to its thickening.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This condition can cause thickening of the septum due to abnormal growth of the heart muscle.
- Septal Hypertrophy: This can be caused by conditions such as hypertension, which leads to thickening of the septum due to increased workload on the heart.
- Cardiac Amyloidosis: This condition involves the deposition of abnormal proteins in the heart tissue, leading to thickening of the septum.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Septal Tumor (e.g., myxoma): Although rare, a tumor on the septum can cause thickening and needs to be ruled out due to its potential for serious complications.
- Infective Endocarditis: This condition can cause septal thickening due to infection and needs to be considered due to its high mortality rate if left untreated.
- Septal Aneurysm: This is a rare condition where a sac-like structure forms on the septum, which can cause thickening and needs to be diagnosed promptly to prevent rupture.
Rare Diagnoses
- Septal Metastasis: In rare cases, cancer can metastasize to the heart, causing septal thickening.
- Septal Fibrosis: This is a rare condition where fibrous tissue forms on the septum, leading to its thickening.
- Septal Hematoma: This is a rare condition where blood accumulates on the septum, causing thickening, often due to trauma or surgery.