Key result
Echocardiography detects rare coexisting left ventricular noncompaction and patent ductus arteriosus in a pediatric patient.
Why the study?
The coexistence of left ventricular noncompaction with patent ductus arteriosus in children is rare and requires detailed ultrasonic diagnostic characterization.
Case Report (n=1)
This case report highlights the rare coexistence of left ventricular noncompaction and a patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed via echocardiography in a pediatric patient.
Echocardiography may detect concurrent LVNC and PDA in children; leaves open generalizability and clinical impact pending larger studies.
Ultrasonic diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction with patent ductus arteriosus in children: A case reportDear Editor, A 6-year-old female patient presented with precordial discomfort following physical exertion.Outpatient echocardiography revealed prominent left ventricular trabeculations and increased thickness of the non-compacted myocardium at the cardiac apex, with the non-compacted layer measuring approximately 10.7 mm and the compacted layer about 3.4 mm in thickness.Additionally, left ventricular enlargement and mild left atrial dilatation were observed.Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) demonstrated a vessel-like communication, approximately 1.8 mm in diameter, between the descending aorta and the left pulmonary artery.The findings are consistent with left ventricular noncompaction and a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), resulting in a left-to-right shunt.Currently, cardiac function remains within the normal range.Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), also known as spongiform cardiomyopathy, is characterized by prominent trabecular meshwork, deep intertrabecular recesses, and disordered myocardial architecture.The echocardiographic diagnostic criteria include: (1) thickened ventricular wall with a two-layered appearance, consisting of an inner non-compacted layer with prominent trabeculations and deep recesses, and an outer compacted layer; the ratio of non-compacted to compacted myocardial thickness (NC/C ratio) measured in the parasternal short-axis view exceeds 2.0 in adults and 1.4 in children; (2) predominant involvement of the apical region (>80%), along with the lateral and inferior walls;(3) color Doppler demonstration of blood flow within the trabecular recesses originating from the ventricular cavity rather than the coronary arteries; and (4) exclusion of other cardiac diseases.Clinically, the coexistence of LVNC with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is rare beyond the present case. 1 The arterial duct is a fetal vascular structure connecting the descending aorta to the pulmonary artery, serving as a crucial physiological shunt in fetal
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Wang et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Left ventricular noncompaction and patent ductus arteriosus (n=1). Echocardiography was evaluated. Outpatient echocardiography successfully identified the rare coexistence of left ventricular noncompaction and a patent ductus arteriosus in a 6-year-old female.
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