Sudden cardiac risk assessment in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: role of the imaging

The current knowledge about imaging in the sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk assessment in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) is discussed. The overall risk of SCD in patients with HCMP is not high, but it remain the main cause of death in young patients. Implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator, surgical treatment of HCMP allow to prevent SCD and other negative cardiovascular events (heart failure and stroke) in patients with HCMP. Thus identification of predictors of negative cardiovascular events is essential in HCMP. Imaging methods (echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging) enable to assess risk factors: left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, left atrial dimension, apical aneurysm, midventricular obstruction and extent of the late gadolinium enhancement. Role of the risk factors in SCD risk assessment in HCMP is discussed in the article.