PERSISTENCE OF SPONGY MYOCARDIUM - A CASE -REPORT

A two and a half year old child was admitted to hospital with peripher al cyanosis. Echocardiography revealed severe dilated cardiomyopathy a ffecting both ventricles with abnormally hypertrophied and irregular m yocardial walls. The pulmonary hypertension was suprasystemic with rai sed pulmonary resistances. The magnetic resonance imaging and angiogra phy confirmed the diagnosis of persistence of spongy myocardium. This is a rare abnormality due to the persistence of embryonic myocardium w ith a network of trabeculations and intertrabecular spaces as usually observed during echocardiography. This case is noteworthy because of t he biventricular involvement and the absence of associated congential cardiac malformation. The prognosis is characterised by a high risk of severe cardiovascular complications.