What echocardiographic finding is associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the interventricular septum. This condition leads to an asymmetrical pattern of wall thickening, where the septal wall may become significantly thicker than the rest of the ventricular walls. This asymmetry can result in obstruction of the outflow tract from the left ventricle, particularly during exertion.

Recognizing asymmetrical wall thickness on echocardiography is critical in diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The increased thickness may vary and often involves the left ventricular walls disproportionately, causing changes in how the heart functions and potentially leading to arrhythmias or heart failure symptoms.

Other options describe findings that are not characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For instance, thinned ventricular walls typically indicate conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy rather than hypertrophy. A dilated left ventricle would suggest volume overload states, while increased left atrial size can result from a variety of conditions, including chronic systolic or diastolic dysfunction, but do not specifically highlight the hallmark features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Thus, asymmetrical wall thickness is the key echocardiographic finding associated with this condition.