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Published on: April 21, 2014
Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium mimicking ischemic cardiomyopathy
Naoya Matsumoto1, Yuichi Sato, Taeko Kunimasa
1Department of Cardiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. naoyamat@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Insights
This study highlights left ventricular failure in a 68-year-old woman, revealing noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium. This condition, characterized by prominent trabeculations, may cause myocardial damage and heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Cardiac Pathophysiology
Background:
- Left ventricular failure is a critical condition often associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective patient management and treatment strategies.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with symptoms of left ventricular failure.
- Initial assessments indicated ischemic cardiomyopathy with lateral wall infarction, despite a normal coronary angiogram.
- Further imaging revealed prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in the left ventricle.
Findings:
- Myocardial perfusion imaging showed a non-reversible perfusion defect and reduced ejection fraction.
- Left ventriculography and cine magnetic resonance imaging confirmed findings consistent with noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium.
- The left ventricular ejection fraction was markedly reduced at 28%.
Implications:
- Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium can mimic or coexist with ischemic cardiomyopathy, leading to left ventricular dysfunction.
- Myocardial hypoperfusion or necrosis within the noncompacted segments may be the underlying cause of heart failure in these patients.
- Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing this rare cardiomyopathy and guiding therapeutic interventions.
Abstract:
A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of left ventricular failure. Myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography demonstrated a non-reversible perfusion defect in the anterolateral left ventricular segments and reduced ejection fraction, findings consisted with ischemic cardiomyopathy accompanied by lateral wall infarction. Coronary angiogram was normal, but the left ventriculogram showed prominent trabeculations in the apical and anterolateral segments. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 28%. Cine magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses, findings consistent with noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium. Myocardial hypoperfusion or necrosis in the noncompacted myocardium may be the cause of myocardial damage and possibly the basis of left ventricular failure.
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