OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease.

METHODSA total of 50 cases of silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease in our hospital underwent conventional electrocardiography (ECG) and TDI. The detection rates for right ventricular hypertrophy by two methods were compared.

RESULTSOf 50 cases of silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease, 19 were diagnosed with right ventricular hypertrophy by ECG, with a detection rate of 38.0%; 29 were diagnosed with right ventricular hypertrophy by TDI, with a detection rate off 58.0%. Statistical analysis suggested that TDI leads to a significantly higher detection rate for right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease (χ² = 4.006, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONBoth TDI and ECG can be used for detecting right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease, but the detection rate is higher when TDI is employed. In addition, ECG cannot directly reflect the increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Therefore, TDI is more suitable for the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with silicosis complicated by chronic pulmonary heart disease and provides a strong diagnostic basis for the clinical treatment of silicosis complicated by pulmonary heart disease.