Clinical Research
Clinical Insights from Cardiac Imaging
Left Ventricular Non-Compaction: Insights From Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2005.03.045Get rights and content
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Objectives

We aimed to test the diagnostic accuracy of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in distinguishing pathological left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) from lesser degrees of trabecular layering seen in healthy volunteers and, in those with cardiomyopathies and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, potential differential diagnoses. We hypothesized that pathological trabeculation could be distinguished by determining the ratio of non-compacted to compacted myocardium (NC/C ratio).

Background

Left ventricular non-compaction is characterized by a non-compacted myocardial layer in the left ventricle. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance images this layer with unprecedented quality, particularly in the ventricular apex, where echocardiography has inherent difficulties.

Methods

We analyzed magnetic resonance cine images, using the 17-segment model in 45 healthy volunteers, 25 athletes, 39 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 14 with dilated cardiomyopathy, 17 with hypertensive heart disease, and 30 with aortic stenosis, as well as images from 7 patients previously diagnosed with LVNC whose diagnoses were supported by additional features.

Results

Areas of non-compaction were common and occurred more frequently in all groups studied in apical and lateral, rather than in basal or septal, segments. A NC/C ratio of >2.3 in diastole distinguished pathological non-compaction, with values for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictions of 86%, 99%, 75%, and 99%, respectively.

Conclusions

Left ventricular non-compaction is diagnosed accurately with CMR using the NC/C ratio in diastole.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

CMR
cardiovascular magnetic resonance
DCM
dilated cardiomyopathy
LV
left ventricle/ventricular
LVNC
left ventricular non-compaction
NC/C ratio
ratio of non-compacted to compacted myocardium

Cited by (0)

This study was supported by grants from the German Academic Exchange Service (Dr. Petersen), the British Heart Foundation (Drs. Neubauer, Watkins, and Anderson) and the Wellcome Trust (Drs. Wiesmann, Selvanayagam, Neubauer, and Watkins).