Question

A banana shaped left ventricle on imaging is characteristically seen in which condition?

• A. HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy)
• B. DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy)
• C. RCM (restrictive cardiomyopathy)
• D. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Hint:

Asymmetric septal thickening curves the cavity into a banana shape.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The shape of the left ventricular cavity gives a clue to the underlying cardiomyopathy. A banana shaped left ventricle is seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM), where asymmetrical septal hypertrophy narrows and deforms the cavity into a curved, banana-like outline. So the answer is option a.

Step 2: Contrast this with the other patterns: a spherical (globular) ventricle is typical of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Step 3: Apical ballooning of the ventricle is the hallmark of Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy, while a spade-shaped ventricle is seen in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Step 4: Distortion or aneurysmal bulging of the ventricle follows myocardial infarction and adverse remodelling. None of these gives the banana shape, confirming HOCM as the correct choice.