Left ventricular noncompaction: imaging findings and diagnostic criteria

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy.
• It is characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in the left ventricle.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the imaging findings of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) using echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and MDCT.
• To discuss the diagnostic criteria, advantages, and limitations of these imaging modalities.
• To highlight potential pitfalls that may lead to misinterpretation of LVNC.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings from echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and MDCT in patients with LVNC.
• Analysis of established diagnostic criteria for LVNC across different imaging techniques.
• Identification and discussion of common imaging pitfalls.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and MDCT each offer unique insights into LVNC morphology.
• Specific imaging features aid in differentiating LVNC from other cardiomyopathies.
• Awareness of pitfalls is essential to avoid misdiagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a cardiac disease of increasing clinical significance.
• Radiologists must be proficient in interpreting imaging findings of LVNC for accurate diagnosis.
• Multimodality imaging plays a vital role in diagnosing and characterizing LVNC.