Multimodality imaging of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

The diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) requires multimodality imaging. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) remains the first-line imaging modality to diagnose HCM identifying morphology and obstruction, which includes left ventricular outflow obstruction, midcavitary obstruction and systolic anterior motion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can adjudicate equivocal cases, rule out alternative diagnoses and evaluate for risk factors of sudden cardiac death. Imaging with TTE or transesophageal echocardiogram can also guide alcohol septal ablation or surgical myectomy respectively. Furthermore, TTE can guide medical management of these patients by following peak gradients. Thus, multimodality imaging in HCM is crucial throughout the course of these patients' care.

Keywords: Alcohol septal ablation; Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Mavacamten; Myectomy; Septal reduction; Sudden cardiac death; Transesophageal echocardiogram; Transthoracic echocardiogram.