From thick walls to clear answers: approaches to diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its mimics

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition primarily caused by mutations in sarcomeric proteins, leading to abnormal thickening of the left ventricular wall. Although HCM is the most common genetic cardiovascular disorder, other conditions-such as cardiac amyloidosis, Fabry disease, and mitochondrial myopathies-can mimic its phenotype, complicating diagnosis. Accurate differentiation between HCM and its phenocopies is crucial, as these conditions differ in treatment, prognosis, and inheritance. This paper reviews the clinical, imaging, and laboratory tools essential for diagnosing HCM and its mimics, emphasizing the role of advanced diagnostics like cardiac magnetic resonance, genetic testing, and tissue characterization in guiding personalized management strategies.