Multimodal Imaging Evaluation of Non-Dilated Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: The Importance of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction: Non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy was first proposed by the European Society of Cardiology in 2023, and imaging evaluation research on this cardiomyopathy remains insufficient. Case Report: We report a case of a 68-year-old female patient who experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath six months ago. Electrocardiogram revealed sinus bradycardia with a ventricular rate of 54 beats per minute. Coronary angiography showed generally normal results, while echocardiography indicated a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed mildly impaired left ventricular function (LVEF 47.4%), with focal mid-myocardial fibrosis in the basal anterior, septal, and inferior walls of the left ventricle, meeting the diagnostic criteria for non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy. According to ESC guidelines, the patient is currently under follow-up observation. Conclusion: The imaging diagnosis of non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy requires a comprehensive multimodal imaging approach. Cardiac magnetic resonance plays a crucial clinical role in the multimodal imaging evaluation of NDLVC. Keywords: nondilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy, cardiac magnetic resonance, echocardiography, dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular function