Objective: To observe the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characterizations in patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).
Methods: All patients were examined by MRI. The LV was divided into 9 segments for localizing non compacted segments. A new value, C/VS, was introduced to assess the degree of non compacted segments.
Results: A total of 31 patients was diagnosed as LVNC (23 males; 39.9 +/- 15.7 years). Palpitations presented in 74% of patients, abnormal EKG found in 93.5% of patients, 33.3% segments were affected and most commonly in the mid-ventricular and apical segments, 84% of patients had > or = 2 affected segments. Right ventricle was affected in 2 patients. Left ventricular thrombi were detected in 3 patients. LVEF was 37.2% +/- 16.5% (14% - 70%), N/C was 3.6 +/- 1.4 (2.2 - 9.2) and C/VS was 0.43 +/- 0.11 (0.27 - 0.69).
Conclusions: Cardiac MRI allows accurate LVNC assessment.