This site is targeted at medical and radiology professionals, contains user contributed content, and material that may be confusing to a lay audience. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Karl Sam et al.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is defined as left ventricular chamber dilation with decreased systolic dysfunction (FEVG < 40%). There may also be right ventricular dysfunction.  Causes are related to intrinsic myocardial damage.

Pathology

Dilated, thin walled, poorly contracting ventricles +/- atria

Aetiology

Although a variety of aetiologies can result in a dilated cardiomyopathy which are listed as below. Some are classified as separate entities. (See WHO 1995 classification of cardiomyopathies) 

  • ischaemic (coronary artery disease)
  • infectious (myocarditis : virus, bacteria) 
  • infiltrative disease (sarcoid, amyloid)
  • metabolic (uraemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphataemia, thyrotoxicosis)
  • toxic (alcohol, cocaine)
  • chemotherapy (doxororubicin)
  • others (peri-partum, muscular dystrophies)
  • auto-immune cross reactivity (e.g. late onset cardiomyopathy in Chagas disease)
Associations

Radiographic features

Plain film  

Commonly large left ventricle and atria with pulmonary oedema +/- pleural effusions

Differential diagnosis

Consider
This article is a stub, which means it needs more content. You can contribute to Radiopaedia.org too. Just register and edit... every little bit helps.

Updating… Please wait.
Loadinganimation

 Details successfully updated.

Error Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.