[Myocardial localisation of tuberculosis: the diagnostic value of cardiac MRI].

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis can be responsible for myocardial damage, the frequency of which is probably underestimated because of the difficulty in its diagnosis. We studied the contribution of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in three patients. OBSERVATIONS: Three patients were treated for disseminated tuberculosis. They had moderate cardiac abnormalities (tachycardia, dyspnoea on effort). The electrocardiogram was normal in 2 patients and the echocardiography showed localized hyperkinesias. Cardiac MRI revealed intra-myocardial nodular gadolinium enhancement and hyperkinesias. The clinical outcome in the 3 patients was favourable following anti-tuberculosis therapy; one patient was also administered corticosteroids. DISCUSSION: Cardiac MRI is a non-invasive examination that brought important arguments for the diagnosis of tubercular myocarditis in the 3 patients.