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Trabeculated (noncompacted) and compact myocardium in adults: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Nadine Kawel1, Marcelo Nacif, Andrew E Arai

  • 1Radiology and Imaging Sciences and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging
|April 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A trabeculated to compact myocardium (T/M) ratio over 2.3 is common in the general population, challenging current diagnostic criteria for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). This study re-evaluates the T/M ratio

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Cardiac MRI

Background:

  • Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is often diagnosed when the trabeculated to compact myocardium (T/M) ratio exceeds 2.3.
  • The diagnostic criteria for LVNC require further investigation in large population studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the normal range of the T/M ratio in a large, diverse population.
  • To investigate the correlation between the T/M ratio and demographic and clinical factors.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiac MRI was used to measure trabeculation and compact myocardium thickness in 1000 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort.
  • Measurements were taken in 8 left ventricular regions using steady-state free precession cine images.

Main Results:

  • In participants without cardiac disease or hypertension, 43% had a T/M ratio >2.3 in at least one region, and 6% had it in more than two regions.
  • No significant association was found between the maximum T/M ratio and age, sex, ethnicity, height, or weight in healthy individuals.
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume were associated with the maximum T/M ratio in the entire cohort.

Conclusions:

  • A T/M ratio >2.3 is prevalent in a large population, suggesting current cardiac MRI criteria for LVNC may need revision.
  • These findings indicate a need to re-evaluate the diagnostic thresholds for LVNC based on T/M ratio.
Abstract

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