Fatal presentation of congenital isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia

Congenital isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia has recently been recognised as a discrete clinical entity with well-defined diagnostic criteria on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This spectrum has been described in four previous cases, three of which presented with relatively mild symptoms and one with pulmonary oedema. All of these patients responded to standard medical management. We describe a sudden and fatal presentation of this anomaly in a previously well 19-year-old mate, confirming the fact that this is not a benign condition but a spectrum with the potential for significant complications. (C) 2008 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.