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©2013 UpToDate ® Print Email Dilated cardiomyopathy Shown are the precordial long axis (panel A) and apical four chamber views (panel B) from a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. The long axis view demonstrates increased sphericity of the left ventricle (LV) and the long axis and short axis ratio approaches unity (normal 2:1). There is left atrial (LA) enlargment and a very large "residual" left ventricular end-systolic volume, ie, at end systole there is a large unejected volume remaining in a dilated LV. The impression of increased sphericity is reinforced in the four chamber view. In addition there is also dilation of the right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV) four chamber dilation, connoting a poor prognosis. MV: mitral valve; AV: aortic valve; Ao: aorta; TV: tricuspid valve; IVS: interventricular septum; IAS: interatrial septum.