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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
Published on: April 25, 2014
Late-phase MSCT in the different stages of myocardial infarction: animal experiments
Andreas H Mahnken1, Philipp Bruners, Sylvia Kinzel
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, RWTH-Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. mahnken@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to intraindividually evaluate myocardial late enhancement on multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) for the assessment of the different stages of myocardial infarction (MI) in comparison with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Reperfused MI was successfully induced in seven pigs. Delayed enhancement MR imaging and late-phase MSCT were performed on day 0 as well as 7, 28 and 90 days after the procedure. The pigs were sacrificed, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolin-chloride (TTC) staining was acquired. MI size was compared between the different imaging techniques and over time applying Bland-Altman plots and multivariate analysis with repeated measures. On day 0 the mean MI size was 23.7 +/- 11.8% of the left ventricular area on MSCT and 24.5 +/- 10.6% on MR imaging. On day 90 infarct sizes decreased significantly to 16.9 +/- 8.4% and 18.9 +/- 8.0%, respectively (P = 0.0019). On TTC staining the size of MI was 16.8 +/- 8.2%. Bland-Altman plots showed a good agreement between MSCT and MR imaging with mean deviations ranging from -3.4% to -1.9%. No significant difference between MSCT and MR imaging was found. Myocardial late enhancement on MSCT correlates well with delayed enhancement MR imaging during the different stages of MI and allows for reliable assessment of reperfused MI during acute, subacute and chronic stages.
Insights
Multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) accurately assesses myocardial infarction (MI) stages by showing late enhancement, comparable to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This technique reliably evaluates reperfused MI across acute, subacute, and chronic phases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Radiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) assessment requires reliable imaging techniques.
- Evaluating the evolution of MI, especially reperfused MI, is crucial for patient management.
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a gold standard, but multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) offers an alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To intra-individually compare myocardial late enhancement on MSCT with MR imaging for assessing different stages of reperfused MI.
- To determine the reliability of MSCT in quantifying infarct size over time.
Main Methods:
- Reperfused MI was induced in seven pigs.
- Delayed enhancement MR imaging and late-phase MSCT were performed at multiple time points (0, 7, 28, 90 days).
- Infarct size was compared between MSCT, MR imaging, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolin-chloride (TTC) staining using Bland-Altman plots and multivariate analysis.
Main Results:
- MSCT and MR imaging showed comparable mean MI sizes at day 0 (23.7% vs 24.5%) and day 90 (16.9% vs 18.9%).
- Infarct size significantly decreased over 90 days (P = 0.0019).
- Bland-Altman analysis revealed good agreement between MSCT and MR imaging, with no significant differences found.
Conclusions:
- Myocardial late enhancement on MSCT correlates well with MR imaging findings in assessing reperfused MI.
- MSCT provides a reliable method for evaluating acute, subacute, and chronic stages of reperfused myocardial infarction.
