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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.
Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
|January 20, 2010
Summary
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.
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