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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Evaluation of myocarditis with delayed-enhancement computed tomography
Kelly Axsom1, Fay Lin, Jonathan W Weinsaft
1Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Delayed-enhancement cardiac computed tomography angiography (DE-CCTA) can effectively diagnose acute myocarditis. This imaging technique shows similar results to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) for detecting myocardial inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Acute myocarditis is an inflammatory condition of the heart muscle.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Traditional diagnostic methods may have limitations.
Observation:
- A healthy 19-year-old male presented with symptoms suggestive of acute cardiac events.
- Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) revealed normal coronary arteries but showed myocardial inflammation.
- Delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) confirmed the findings of myocardial inflammation.
Findings:
- Both DE-CCTA and DE-CMR demonstrated patchy, diffuse epicardial hyperenhancement consistent with acute myocarditis.
- DE-CCTA findings correlated well with DE-CMR in terms of territory and extent of myocardial inflammation.
- DE-CCTA identified various patterns of late hyperenhancement, including transmural and subepicardial.
Implications:
- DE-CCTA shows potential as a valuable tool for diagnosing acute myocarditis.
- This technique allows for simultaneous assessment of coronary arteries and myocardial inflammation.
- DE-CCTA may offer a more comprehensive evaluation in suspected myocarditis cases.
Abstract:
A healthy 19-year-old man with no history of substance abuse presented with 3 days of dyspnea and chest pressure relieved by leaning forward associated with nausea, emesis, and diarrhea. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) showed normal coronary artery anatomy and no evidence of coronary artery plaque. The delayed-enhancement CCTA showed patchy epicardial and mid-myocardial enhancement of the wall and apex, consistent with myocardial inflammation. Delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) performed the following day confirmed patchy, diffuse epicardial hyperenhancement of the lateral wall, septum, and apex consistent with myocardial inflammation. Both CCTA and CMR supported the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. Delayed-enhancement CCTA is correlated with delayed-enhancement CMR in acute myocarditis by territory and extent and can show late hyperenhancement that can be transmural, subepicardial, or confined to small foci within a layer of the myocardium. Delayed-enhancement CCTA has potential utility for simultaneous evaluation of coronary arteries and myocardial inflammation in suspected myocarditis.
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