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Cardiac Imaging in Myocarditis: Current Evidence and Future Directions
Camila Urzua Fresno1, Felipe Sanchez Tijmes1,2, Kirsten E Shaw3
1Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, University Health Network (UHN), 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Summary
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, is difficult to diagnose due to vague symptoms and no specific biomarkers. This review explores how cardiac imaging techniques like MRI and echocardiography aid in diagnosing myocarditis, especially after COVID-19 vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Inflammatory Diseases
Background:
- Myocarditis is a non-ischemic myocardial inflammation posing diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms and absent specific biomarkers.
- Cardiac imaging is crucial for evaluating myocarditis, with various modalities offering distinct advantages and limitations.
Approach:
- This review analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of different cardiac imaging techniques for myocarditis assessment.
- It examines imaging findings in myocarditis caused by specific factors like COVID-19 and vaccinations.
- The review also evaluates imaging's role in distinguishing myocarditis from mimics and identifies knowledge gaps.
Key Points:
- Cardiac MRI, echocardiography, CT, and PET have unique roles in myocarditis diagnosis.
- Imaging patterns vary depending on the cause, including post-COVID-19 and post-vaccination myocarditis.
- Differentiating myocarditis from other conditions using imaging is critical.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac imaging is essential for diagnosing and characterizing myocarditis.
- Understanding the capabilities and limitations of each modality is key for effective patient evaluation.
- Further research is needed to refine imaging protocols and address current knowledge gaps.
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