Differential Diagnosis for Mild Multichamber Cardiomegaly
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypertension: This is often the most common cause of mild multichamber cardiomegaly due to the increased workload on the heart, leading to hypertrophy and dilation of the chambers over time.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Heart Failure: Both systolic and diastolic heart failure can lead to multichamber cardiomegaly as the heart's ability to pump or fill efficiently is compromised, causing chambers to enlarge.
- Valvular Heart Disease: Conditions such as mitral regurgitation or aortic stenosis can lead to increased volume or pressure load on the heart, resulting in chamber enlargement.
- Coronary Artery Disease: Ischemic cardiomyopathy from coronary artery disease can lead to dilation and hypertrophy of the heart chambers.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Amyloidosis: A condition where abnormal proteins deposit in the heart, leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy. It's crucial to diagnose early due to its poor prognosis and specific treatment options.
- Hemochromatosis: Iron overload can lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Early diagnosis is critical to prevent irreversible damage through iron chelation therapy.
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory condition that can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias. It requires specific treatment and has a significant impact on prognosis.
Rare Diagnoses
- Fabry Disease: A genetic disorder leading to the accumulation of a particular type of fat in the body's cells, affecting the heart and causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC): A rare heart condition where the muscle in the right ventricle is replaced by fat and scar tissue, potentially leading to life-threatening arrhythmias.
- Left Ventricular Non-compaction (LVNC): A rare cardiomyopathy characterized by a spongy appearance of the left ventricle due to an arrest in the normal process of myocardial compaction.