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.

Clinical Radiology
|October 12, 2010
PubMed

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.

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