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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809624
Case Report

Biventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy: Rare Case with MRI Diagnosis Insights

Shivam Angiras 
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
,
Deb Kumar Boruah 
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
,
Rajeev Bharadwaj 
2   Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
,
Pranjal Phukan
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
,
Kalyan Sarma
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
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Abstract

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCC) is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy caused by the arrest of endomyocardial morphogenesis, leading to prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses. Emerging evidence suggests that noncompaction may also occur secondary to other myocardial pathologies or have a genetic basis. A 59-year-old male with no coronary risk factors presented with 1-year history of chest pain, palpitations, orthopnea, and fatigue. Clinical examination revealed atrial fibrillation, normal pulmonary findings, and no peripheral edema. Echocardiography showed inferior wall hypokinesia, grade I diastolic dysfunction, with ejection fraction of 48%. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed excessive myocardial trabeculations with reduced biventricular function. Petersen, Stacey, and Jacquier criteria established the diagnosis of biventricular noncompaction (BVNC), a rare form of NCC. The patient was managed with standard heart failure therapy. BVNC, while rare, poses diagnostic challenges and carries significant morbidity due to heart failure and arrhythmias. This case describes the importance of MRI for accurate diagnosis and tailored management in BVNC.

Keywords

biventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (BVNC) - cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) - myocardial trabeculations

Note

All figures were obtained from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, AIIMS, Guwahati, and the Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, Guwahati.


Authors' Contributions

Concept: D.B.

Literature search: R.B.

Manuscript preparation: S.A.

Manuscript editing: K.S.

Manuscript review: P.P.


Patient's Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case review including images.




Publication History

Article published online:
11 June 2025

© 2025. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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