Non-compaction of the left ventricle

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 24 Jan 2024

Non-compaction of the left ventricle, also known as spongiform cardiomyopathy or left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a phenotype of hypertrophic ventricular trabeculations and deep interventricular recesses. It has been hypothesized to result from the arrest of normal myocardial compaction during embryogenesis, although acquired cases have also been reported.

Non-compaction of the right ventricle has been described but is rare 3.

There is controversy as to whether non-compaction of the left ventricle represents a distinct disease versus a phenotypic manifestation of various cardiomyopathies 9. For example, although left ventricular non-compaction is classified as primary genetic cardiomyopathy by the American Heart Association, it remains unclassified by both the World Health Organization and the European Society of Cardiology 9.

At least some of the inconsistency is due to the fact that non-compaction of the left ventricle is mostly diagnosed by morphological criteria on non-invasive imaging (e.g. echocardiography and cardiac MRI), and no universally accepted criteria exist.

Additionally, findings of non-compaction of the left ventricle may be seen in a spectrum of clinical presentations. It may be seen as a component of cardiomyopathy, such as in Barth syndrome, or in concert with other myocardial structural/functional abnormalities (e.g. dilated, restrictive, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies); however, it may be acquired/reversible and/or observed in subjects with normal left ventricular function and size.

Thus, findings of left ventricular non-compaction should not be equated with cardiomyopathy or aberrant left ventricular function, as the findings should be integrated into a holistic evaluation of cardiac function in deciding a final diagnosis 6.

While non-compaction of the left ventricle may be an isolated morphological variant, discovered in patients with otherwise structurally and functionally normal hearts, it may also present as a component of congenital heart disease or true cardiomyopathy; in this latter instance, it may present as congestive heart failure. Other presenting features may include 8:

In most patients with non-compaction of the left ventricle, there are no other cardiac malformations. Both familial and sporadic forms have been described 1. However, in at least one study, approximately 12% of patients had associated cardiac malformations 1:

Chest radiographs are not useful in the diagnosis of non-compaction of the left ventricle. They are more useful in identifying complications of cardiomyopathy, such as pulmonary edema and cardiomegaly.

Echocardiography was traditionally used in the diagnosis of left ventricular non-compaction, with the addition of contrast greatly increasing the sensitivity of this examination. However, cardiac MRI is now considered the modality of choice to make this diagnosis. There are no universally accepted echocardiographic criteria for left ventricular non-compaction. Most common echocardiographic features include 7:

  • a bilayered mural appearance of the left ventricle

    • the relatively hypoechoic inner layer of the left ventricular wall representing the endocardium/myocardium is hypertrabeculated

      • referred to as the non-compacted or "NC" layer

    • the non-compacted layer is surrounded by the outer "compacted" layer, representing the epicardium

    • classical definition based on the ratio between non-compacted vs compacted myocardium

      • increased thickness of the non-compacted layer with a non-compacted/compacted ratio >2.3 consistent with the diagnosis

  • regional increase in left ventricular trabeculation

    • predominantly affects the inferolateral walls and the apex

    • parasternal short axis (or apical four/two/long-axis view) should reveal at least four trabeculations

  • pronounced intertrabecular "crypts" or recesses

Other commonly associated features include:

Cardiac MRI (CMR) has a better contrast resolution than echocardiography and it is the modality of choice for the diagnosis of spongiform cardiomyopathy.

A good diagnostic clue is a ratio of non-compacted telediastolic myocardium to compacted telediastolic myocardium of more than 2.3:1 (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 99%) 10,11.

For improved discrimination of left ventricular non-compaction versus other cardiomyopathies with hypertrabeculated myocardium the following MRI criteria were proposed 11,12:

  • percentage left ventricular myocardial mass (non-compacted) >25 %

  • total left ventricular myocardial mass index (non-compacted) >15 g/m2

  • non-compacted/compacted myocardium ratio of ≥3:1 in at least one of the following segments (1–3, 7–16) – the apical segment 17 is excluded

  • trabeculation (non-compacted/compacted) in segments 4–6 of ≥2:1

The radiology report should include a description of the following:

  • ratio non-compacted to compacted enddiastolic myocardium

  • affected left ventricular segments

  • left ventricular myocardial mass (compacted and non-compacted myocardium)

  • left ventricular function

The only definitive treatment of left ventricular non-compaction is heart transplantation. Otherwise, prevention of both heart failure and thromboembolic events are the main target of treatments.

Possible differential considerations in certain situations include:

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