The first case of noncompaction was described in 1932 after an autopsy performed 
on a newborn infant with aortic atresia/coronary-ventricular fistula. Isolated 
noncompaction cardiomyopathy was first described in 1984. A review on 
selected/relevant medical literature was conducted using Pubmed from 1984 to 
2013 and the pathogenesis, clinical features, and management are discussed. Left 
ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a relatively rare congenital condition that 
results from arrest of the normal compaction process of the myocardium during 
fetal development. LVNC shows variability in its genetic pattern, 
pathophysiologic findings, and clinical presentations. The genetic 
heterogeneity, phenotypical overlap, and variety in clinical presentation raised 
the suspicion that LVNC might just be a morphological variant of other 
cardiomyopathies, but the American Heart Association classifies LVNC as a 
primary genetic cardiomyopathy. The familiar type is common and follows a 
X-linked, autosomal-dominant, or mitochondrial-inheritance pattern (in 
children). LVNC can occur in isolation or coexist with other cardiac and/or 
systemic anomalies. The clinical presentations are variable ranging from 
asymptomatic patients to patients who develop ventricular arrhythmias, 
thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Increased awareness 
over the last 25 years and improvements in technology have increased the 
identification of this illness and improved the clinical outcome and prognosis. 
LVNC is commonly diagnosed by echocardiography. Other useful diagnostic 
techniques for LVNC include cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, computerized 
tomography, and left ventriculography. Management is symptom based and patients 
with symptoms have a poorer prognosis. LVNC is a genetically heterogeneous 
disorder which can be associated with other anomalies. Making the correct 
diagnosis is important because of the possible associations and the need for 
long-term management and screening of living relatives.