Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disease characterized by diffuse or segmental left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy associated with a nondilated ventricular chamber, in the absence of other cardiac or systemic disease that might be capable of producing the same degree of hypertrophy [1]. It is an important cause of sudden cardiac death in any age group. The prevalence of HCM is approximately 0.2–0.5 % of the general population.

Pathologic hallmarks of HCM are myocyte disarray and interstitial fibrosis [2]. HCM is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is caused by mutations in a sarcomeric gene which encodes protein components of the cardiac sarcomeres.

HCM can be seen as part of certain genetic and metabolic syndromes. These include Noonan syndrome (associated with pulmonary valve dysplasia and septal defects), mitochondrial myopathies, glycogen storage diseases (type II Pompe disease), as well as other rare conditions. In older patients, other systemic diseases associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) include hypertension, Friedrich ataxia, pheochromocytoma, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, amyloidosis, lentiginosis (referring to the presence of lentigines or spotted areas on the skin due to sun exposure), and Fabry disease, a rare X-linked autosomal recessive metabolic storage disorder caused by a lack of lysosomal a-­galactosidase [3].

Imaging plays a role in detecting HCM, characterizing its pattern (phenotype), classifying disease severity, and providing risk stratification criteria for sudden cardiac death. Echocardiography is the conventional imaging modality to screen for this condition, as it can characterize the pattern and distribution of increased LV wall thickness. However, it can underestimate the degree of LV hypertrophy, especially at the apical endocardial border.

Cardiac MRI using delayed gadolinium-enhancement technique provides information regarding the location and extent of fibrosis and is considered the examination of choice to establish the diagnosis of HCM when echocardiography is inconclusive. It allows multiplanar imaging which has the advantages of allowing complete coverage of the myocardium and better characterization of the pattern and distribution of LV hypertrophy.

Cardiac CT is not routinely used in patients with HCM since it is associated with radiation exposure. However, CT can be useful in those patients in whom detailed anatomy of the coronary arteries is needed and in patients with contraindications to MRI such as a pacemaker or aneurysm clips. The spatial resolution of CT is usually superior to MRI, allowing exquisite, noninvasive coronary artery angiography. Cardiac CT also provides comprehensive anatomical and functional information about the heart chambers and myocardium [4]. In retrospectively gated cardiac CT acquisition, systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve can be easily assessed. In addition, delayed enhancement CT scanning provides information about myocardial scarring and fibrosis similar to that provided by MRI [5, 6]. CT has been reported to be useful in the assessment of patients undergoing septal alcohol ablation by enabling depiction of the exact extent and location of septal hypertrophy, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and mitral valve leaflet–septal contact as well as septal perforator anatomy, which is of utmost importance in guiding septal ablation [7, 8]. See Table 10.1 for the utility of CT in the evaluation of HCM.

It should be noted that myocardial bridging is common in patients with apical hypertrophy and has been reported in the majority of patients presenting with typical or ­atypical chest pain [9]. It can lead to myocardial ischemia by narrowing the intramyocardial segment of the affected coronary artery, which can be especially well seen on CT.