Non invasive imaging of myocardial infarction with computed tomography and magnetic resonance

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading global cause of mortality and morbidity.
• Accurate diagnosis and understanding of MI determinants are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Noninvasive imaging plays a vital role in preclinical and clinical settings of MI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of three-dimensional noninvasive imaging techniques in the assessment of myocardial infarction.
• To differentiate the roles of Cardiac CT (CCT) and Cardiac MR imaging (CMR) in MI evaluation.
• To highlight the advancements in imaging for understanding, diagnosis, and follow-up of MI.

Main Methods:

• Review of Cardiac CT (CCT) applications for morphological assessment, including coronary stenosis detection and atherosclerotic burden evaluation.
• Review of Cardiac MR imaging (CMR) applications for functional assessment, including ventricular volumes, mass, and contractility.
• Focus on CMR's delayed contrast enhancement for myocardial viability imaging in acute and chronic MI.

Main Results:

• CCT excels in morphological assessment, aiding in acute settings and follow-up of revascularized patients.
• CMR is the gold standard for functional assessment, providing detailed analysis of cardiac mechanics.
• CMR's delayed enhancement is highly effective for characterizing the extent and nature of myocardial infarction.

Conclusions:

• Both CCT and CMR offer complementary insights into myocardial infarction.
• These advanced imaging modalities significantly improve the understanding, diagnosis, and management of MI.
• Noninvasive imaging is indispensable for comprehensive MI care, from initial event to long-term monitoring.