Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, most commonly caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream. The hallmark finding on echocardiography is a vegetation, an irregular, mobile mass of infected material attached to a heart valve leaflet. Vegetations typically appear as echogenic, oscillating masses on the upstream side of the valve that move independently from the valve leaflet itself. Transesophageal echocardiography is more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography for detecting vegetations, particularly on prosthetic valves. Endocarditis can also cause valve destruction, abscess formation, and new regurgitation, all of which are important echocardiographic findings.
Sonography Term