title: Left ventricular noncompaction: a proposal of new diagnostic criteria by multidetector computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a cardiomyopathy characterized by a noncompacted myocardial layer in the left ventricle, primarily diagnosed by echocardiographic and magnetic resonance criteria. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is an imaging method that has been increasingly used in cardiac evaluation. However, tomographic criteria to diagnose LVNC have not been determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the structural characteristics of LVNC with MDCT and proposed tomographic criteria that may differentiate LVNC from healthy subjects and patients with other cardiomyopathies that might be associated with increased myocardial trabeculation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2007 and June 2009 we studied 10 consecutive patients with LVNC diagnosed by echocardiogram and/or magnetic resonance imaging who underwent electrocardiogram-gated coronary CT angiography. We evaluated the ratio of noncompacted to compacted myocardium (NC/C ratio) in end diastole in each of the 17 segments established by the American Heart Association (excluding the apex). The results were compared with 9 healthy subjects, 14 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 17 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy to determine the cutoff that would distinguish patients with LVNC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When considering involvement of more than 1 segment, the NC/C ratio of 2.2 distinguished pathologic noncompaction, with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95%, respectively. In addition, the involvement of ≥2 segments allows the distinction of all patients with LVNC from other cardiomyopathies and from healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVNC can be accurately diagnosed with MDCT when using a cutoff NC/C ratio of 2.2 at end diastole involving ≥2 segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1, Col Sección XVI, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melendez-Ramirez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castillo-Castellon
authors.forename: Nilda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Espinola-Zavaleta
authors.forename: Aloha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meave
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kimura-Hayama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol; D056830:Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol