Live/real time three-dimensional echocardiographic demonstration of left ventricular noncompaction and thrombi

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy.
• Accurate diagnosis of LVNC and associated complications like thrombus formation is crucial for patient management.
• Distinguishing between trabeculations and intracardiac thrombi can be challenging with conventional imaging.

Observation:

• Two adult patients with suspected left ventricular noncompaction were evaluated.
• Conventional two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) was supplemented with live/real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE).
• 3DTTE provided enhanced visualization of the left ventricular полости.

Findings:

• 3DTTE facilitated a definitive diagnosis of coexisting thrombi and trabeculations in the left ventricle for both patients.
• The mobility of thrombi and presence of central echolucencies, indicative of clot lysis, were clearly demonstrated by 3DTTE.
• 3DTTE enabled confident differentiation between mobile thrombi and adjacent noncompacted trabeculations.

Implications:

• Live 3DTTE is a valuable tool for improving diagnostic accuracy in complex cases of left ventricular noncompaction.
• This advanced echocardiographic technique aids in differentiating intracardiac thrombi from trabeculations, potentially impacting treatment strategies.
• Enhanced visualization of thrombus characteristics by 3DTTE may improve risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in LVNC patients.