Two cases of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium with ischemic stroke

Cardiogenic cerebral embolism is a well-known cause of ischemic stroke, typically associated with conditions like atrial fibrillation and acute myocardial infarction.However, left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare but recognized cause of ischemic stroke, particularly in younger individuals.Case 1: A man in his 30s presented with sudden right hemiplegia and articulation disorder.An MRI confirmed a new cerebral infarction, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a thickened and compacted layer at the apex of the left ventricle.Cardiac MRI supported the diagnosis of LVNC, indicating it as the likely source of embolism.Case 2: Another man in his 30s with worsening dyspnea was diagnosed with acute congestive heart failure.TTE showed reduced left ventricular contraction and trabecular formations.However, after 13 days, he developed right-sided weakness, and MRI confirmed the occurrence of a new cerebral infarction.LVNC was suspected as the underlying cause of the embolism in this case.LVNC is characterized by echocardiographic findings such as trabecular formations and blood-filled lesions within the myocardium.However, distinguishing true LVNC from remodeling-related trabecular-formation can be challenging.Therefore, when echocardiographic images resemble LVNC, it is crucial to consider the possibility of LVNC as a potential cause of ischemic stroke.