Comparison of M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography in infective endocarditis.

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Abstract
Cross-sectional and M-mode echocardiograms were performed on 23 patients with infective [Candida-tropicalis, Staphylococcus-aureus, Haemophilus-influenzae, Streptococcus-viridans, S. sanguis, S. mutans, .alpha.-hemolytic streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus] endocarditis. Both M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography identified vegetations in 18 patients, 10 of whom required valve replacement within 1 mo. of presentation. Cross-sectional echocardiography alone identified a vegetation in 1 patient with a prosthetic valve. Neither technique identified vegetations in 5 instances. The size and shape of a vegetation on cross-sectional echocardiography did not accurately predict the need for early valve replacement or the incidence of major peripheral emboli.