Comparison of echocardiographic linear dimensions for male and female child and adolescent athletes with published pediatric normative data.

The study presents normative data for basic echocardiographic cardiac measurements for children of both sexes practicing varying sporting disciplines and compares them with general pediatric population. Mean values of cardiac dimensions are higher in young athletes, particularly in relation to the left atrium and left ventricular muscle thickness. In most cases, the upper limit of normality observed in the young athletes is confined within the upper limit of the general pediatric population.