Fingerprinting MINOCA: Unraveling Clues With Quantitative CMR

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) presents a diagnostic challenge.
• Understanding the diverse pathophysiologic mechanisms of MINOCA is crucial for effective management.

Observation:

• This case series details two patients with MINOCA exhibiting distinct underlying causes.
• Both patients underwent comprehensive evaluation using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Findings:

• CMR imaging, utilizing both conventional parametric mapping and CMR fingerprinting, provided detailed tissue characterization.
• The imaging results were instrumental in identifying the specific etiology of MINOCA in each patient.

Implications:

• Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing the cause of MINOCA.
• Accurate diagnosis via CMR facilitates the selection of appropriate therapeutic strategies for MINOCA patients.