A different type of cardiomyopathy:: ventricular noncompaction (evaluation of 8 cases)

Ventricular noncompaction, characterized by numerous, prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intratrabecular recesses, is thought to be due to an arrest of myocardial morphogenesis. We report eight patients with ventricular noncompaction diagnosed at our center in the previous one year. Two patients had associated congenital cardiac anomalies while the others were without coexisting cardiac abnormalities. Both ventricles were involved in one patient, only the right ventricle in one, and only the left ventricle in six patients. Seven patients had initially been diagnosed as having different types of cardiomyopathies. In conclusion, based on our limited experience, we propose that during the differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathies, ventricular noncompaction should be considered.