title: An unusual cause of heart failure identified by echocardiography in an octogenarian.
abstract: Non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy that carries an unfavorable prognosis. It is associated with a high incidence of progressive heart failure, thromboembolism and malignant arrhythmias. Echocardiography currently remains the imaging modality most commonly used for diagnosis. We describe an unusual case of isolated non-compaction of the left ventricle in an octogenarian male to highlight the need for echocardiography in all patients with suspected heart failure, in order to determine aetiology, prognosis and assess treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Investigation Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, P.O. Box 2900, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia.
authors.forename: Ming Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prior
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography