National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Left ventricular noncompaction

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My daughter was recently diagnosed. She is in her twenties. Is left ventricular noncompaction very difficult to diagnose?
There are factors that affect the ease of diagnosing LVNC. Currently there is no clear genetic or laboratory test to diagnose this condition.[1] Diagnosis relies heavily on Imaging studies, such as echocardiography. There are heart conditions that can look similar to LVNC on imaging studies, which can make correct diagnosis challenging.[1] On the other hand, with new imaging technologies, people with no heart problems (no dangerous rhythms or heart weakness) are being identified as having sponginess or "hyper-trabeculation" in their hearts. This has raised some concern for inappropriate diagnosis or overdiagnosis of LVNC.[2][1]
Last updated: 12/29/2013

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  1. Niemann M, Stork S, Weidemann F. Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy: An overdiagnosed disease. Circulation. 2012; 126:e240-e243. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/126/16/e240.extract. Accessed 12/27/2013.
  2. Left ventricular noncompaction. Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease. http:/familyheart.stanford.edu/clinics/noncomp1.html. Accessed 12/27/2013.