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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Evaluation of myocardial bridge with multidetector computed tomography
So Yeon Kim1, Young Soo Lee, Jin Bae Lee
1Department of Cardiology, College of Medicine Catholic University of Daegu, Korea.
Insights
Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) can detect myocardial bridges (MB), an intramural coronary artery segment. This noninvasive imaging method evaluates MB prevalence and anatomical features, offering a valuable diagnostic alternative.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Myocardial bridge (MB) involves an intramural coronary artery segment covered by myocardial tissue.
- Current diagnostic methods like coronary angiography are invasive.
- Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) offers a potential noninvasive alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize MDCT for detecting myocardial bridges (MB).
- To evaluate the anatomical properties of MB using MDCT.
- To assess the prevalence of MB in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- 64-slice MDCT was performed on 607 patients.
- MB diagnosis was based on visualizing intramural coronary artery segments on axial and multiplanar images.
- Evaluation included MB prevalence, length, myocardial thickness, and location.
Main Results:
- Myocardial bridge (MB) was detected in 39 out of 607 patients (6.42%).
- The mid left anterior descending artery was the most common location (52.6%).
- Mean MB length was 16.3 mm, with mean myocardial thickness of 1.8 mm; length correlated significantly with thickness (P=0.049).
Conclusions:
- MDCT can effectively determine the incidence and anatomical characteristics of myocardial bridges (MB).
- MDCT presents a potentially useful, noninvasive method for diagnosing myocardial bridges.
- This imaging technique aids in understanding this coronary artery variant.
Background:
The myocardial bridge (MB) is an intramural segment of coronary artery that is covered with myocardial tissue. The current diagnostic methods are coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound and intracoronary Doppler, which are all invasive modalities. In this study, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was used to detect and evaluate the anatomical properties of the MB.
Methods And Results:
The 607 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice MDCT. MB was diagnosed when an intramural segment of coronary artery was visualized on axial and multiplanar reconstruction images. The prevalence, length, myocardial thickness, and location were evaluated. Of the 607 patients, 39 (6.42%) had a MB. In 20 patients (52.6%), the MB was located in the mid left anterior descending artery. The length of tunneled artery was a mean 16.3 mm, from 6.9 mm to 30 mm, and the maximum thickness of the myocardial tissue was between 0.5 mm and 3.9 mm, with a mean of 1.8 mm. The length of the MB correlated significantly with thickness (P=0.049).
Conclusions:
The incidence of MB and its anatomical properties can be evaluated with MDCT, which might be a useful and noninvasive method of detecting this variant. (Circ J 2010; 74: 137 - 141).
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