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Published on: April 18, 2013
Complications of myocardial infarction on multidetector-row computed tomography of chest
V Raj1, K Karunasaagarar, J H F Rudd
1Department of Radiology, Papworth and Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
Myocardial infarction (MI) complications, though sometimes rare, are crucial to identify early for better patient outcomes. This review details imaging features of MI complications on cardiac and thoracic CT scans.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) due to coronary artery disease is a leading cause of mortality.
- Early reperfusion therapy has improved outcomes for acute MI survivors.
- MI complications encompass ischemic, mechanical, arrhythmic, embolic, and inflammatory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the spectrum and imaging features of acute and chronic MI complications.
- To guide radiologists in diagnosing MI complications using MDCT, including non-ECG-gated scans.
Main Methods:
- Review of imaging findings of MI complications.
- Utilizing both ECG-gated cardiac and non-ECG-gated thoracic multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT).
Main Results:
- Echocardiography and clinical examination are primary diagnostic tools for most MI complications.
- MDCT, even without ECG-gating, can visualize a wide range of acute and chronic MI complications.
- Radiologists must be proficient in identifying these complications on MDCT for non-specific presentations.
Conclusions:
- Early diagnosis and treatment of MI complications are vital for improving patient prognosis.
- MDCT is a valuable tool for detecting and characterizing MI complications, aiding clinical management.
Abstract:
Myocardial infarction (MI) secondary to coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in the western world. The advent of early reperfusion therapy has substantially decreased in-hospital mortality and has improved the outcome in survivors of the acute phase of MI. Complications of MI include ischaemic, mechanical, arrhythmic, embolic and inflammatory disturbances. Although some of these complications may be infrequent, their importance is underscored because of the potential ability to correct them with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The majority of these complications will be detected on clinical examination and confirmed by echocardiography. Some patients may undergo non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated thoracic multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) due to non-specific presentation. In this group, it is imperative for the radiologist to be aware of and be confident in diagnosing the complications secondary to MI. This review illustrates the spectrum and imaging features of acute and chronic complications of MI that can be visualized on both ECG-gated cardiac and non-ECG-gated thoracic MDCT.
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