Imaging Features of Sawtooth Cardiomyopathy: The Tiger Heart

Sawtooth cardiomyopathy, or 'tiger heart,' shows a characteristic trabeculated myocardium on MRI and CT resembling tiger stripes. Recognizing this rare phenotype may help avoid misdiagnosis as noncompaction or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

• Educational review from Radiology describing CT and MRI features of sawtooth cardiomyopathy with illustrative examples.
• Key imaging hallmark: prominent, sawtooth-like trabeculations often confused with other cardiomyopathies.
• Main limitation: rarity of the condition precludes large-scale validation of imaging criteria.

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