Acute myocarditis presenting as asymmetric septal hypertrophy

Abstract

A 19-year-old male with myocarditis presented with the echocardiographic appearance of asymmetric septal hypertrophy. After six days of steroid therapy the septum and the posterior wall returned to normal thickness. This case suggests that a diagnosis of myocarditis should be considered in patients demonstrating asymmetric septal hypertrophy, particularly when there are associated left ventricular wall motion abnormalities.