A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of chest distress, associated with activity. Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) demonstrated a suspected trabeculation versus false tendon of the left ventricular apex cordis but not meeting the diagnostic criteria of noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM). Threedimensional echocardiography (3DE) revealed more prominent trabeculations and deeper intertrabecular recesses of the left ventricular apex, which were consistent with the diagnostic criteria of NVM. In contrast to 2DE, 3DE provides wide, pyramid-shaped datasets that encompass the entire left ventricle. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:208–10.)