Intermediate
Technical
IVT
wall motion abnormality
Regional impairment of ventricular wall contraction visible on cardiac imaging studies.
Full Definition
Wall motion abnormalities refer to regional defects in myocardial contraction that can be identified through echocardiography, cardiac MRI, or nuclear imaging. These abnormalities are classified as hypokinesis (reduced motion), akinesis (absent motion), or dyskinesis (paradoxical motion). They typically indicate underlying coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, or cardiomyopathy affecting specific coronary territories.
Usage
Usage note: May be abbreviated as WMA in clinical notes; specify location and severity when documenting.
In Context
- "Echocardiography demonstrated anterior wall motion abnormality consistent with LAD territory ischemia." — Cardiology report
- "No new wall motion abnormalities were observed during dobutamine stress testing." — Stress test interpretation
Also known as
regional wall motion abnormality
RWMA
Contrasted with
normal wall motion
Don't confuse with
global hypokinesis
valvular dysfunction