Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Adults: Imaging and Clinical Findings in 63 Patients

Purpose: To describe imaging and clinical findings for a left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) in the adult. Materials and Methods: From 2000 to 2014, 63 patients were diagnosed with LVNC by echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging at our hospital. Baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations, combined cardiac or systemic anomalies, and imaging findings were reviewed. We made a comparison between the isolated and combined disease groups. Results: Among 63 patients with LVNC, 32 (51%) patients did not have combined cardiac anomalies (isolated disease group). The mean age at the initial diagnosis was higher in the isolated than in the combined disease group (54.2 years vs. 40.2 years, p < 0.001). The combined disease group presented symptoms more frequently at initial diagnosis than the isolated disease group (94% vs. 75%, p = 0.082). Heart failure symptoms were the most common adverse events (60.3% in all patients). Thromboembolic events developed in 20 patients, and were more frequent in the combined disease group than in the isolated disease group (39% vs. 26%, p = 0.279). The most common cardiac abnormality was dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 15, 24%). There was no significant difference in the mean noncompacted/compacted ratios between both of the disease groups. Conclusion: Isolated and combined LVNC disease groups showed differences in age at diagnosis and clinical manifestations. The clinical and imaging findings may be helpful to better understand LVNC.