Table 1

Investigational criteria proposed to identify NCCM

StudyInvestigation usedDiagnostic criteria
Chin et al5Echocardiography

  1. X/Y ratio ≤0.5 (when measured at end-diastole from parasternal short axis view or apical view)

    X=distance between epicardial surface and trough of the trabecular recesses (compacted layer of LV)

    Y=distance between epicardial surface and peak of trabeculation (total thickness of LV)

  2. Two layered structure of myocardium comprising of compacted layer and non-compacted layer

Jenni et al42Echocardiography

  1. Absence of coexisting cardiovascular abnormalities

  2. Maximum end-systolic ratio of NC to C layers is >2

  3. Predominant localisation of abnormalities in mid-lateral, apical and mid-inferior areas

  4. Colour Doppler evidence of deeply perfused intertrabecular recesses

Stollberger et al43–45*Echocardiography

  1. >3 Trabeculations arising from LV wall, apically to papillary muscles and visible in one echocardiographic image plane at end-diastole

  2. Trabeculations form the NC part of a two-layered myocardial structure, best visible at end-systole

  3. Intertrabecular spaces perfused from the ventricular cavity, as visualized with the colour Doppler echocardiography

  4. Trabeculations move synchronously with C myocardium

Petersen et al46MRIRatio of NC/C layer >2.3 (when measured in end-diastole)
Belanger et al47EchocardiographyClassified as none, mild, moderate and severe based on:
A. NC/C ratio
B. LVNC area 
Jacquier et al48MRILV trabeculated area >20% of global LV mass (when measured in end-diastole)
Paterick et al49Echocardiography

  1. Evaluation of the trabeculations’ sizes (NC myocardium) to C wall thicknesses in multiple imaging windows and at different ventricular levels throughout the cardiac cycle

  2. Identification of the bilayered myocardium (C and NC) in the short-axis views at the mid- and apical levels and in the apical 2- and 4-chamber views and apical long-axis views

  3. Thickness of C and NC sections of myocardium in short-axis views at end-diastole with NC/C ratio >2 being diagnostic of NCCM

  4. Abnormal ventricular function and abnormal myocardial mechanics

Melendez-Ramirez et al50CT scan†NC/C ratio ≥2.2 in ≥2 myocardial segments

  • *=criteria refined since 2002.

  • †=multidetector CT.

  • C, compacted; LV, left ventricle; NC, non-compacted; NC/C, ratio of the thickness of the non-compacted layer of myocardium to the compacted layer of myocardium in the LV; NCCM, non-compaction cardiomyopathy.