INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A number of different conditions can present with symptoms similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS): chest pain, electrocardiographic changes and elevated levels of markers of myocardial damage. Even after coronary angiography has been performed, differential diagnosis can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosing conditions that present like ACS but in which the coronary arteries are normal. METHODS: The study involved 80 patients with suspected ACS and normal coronary arteries. Their mean age was 48+/-15 years and their mean troponin-T (TnT) level was 1.8+/-0.9 ng/ml. A CMR study, which involved T2-weighted imaging to detect edema and delayed contrast-enhancement (DCE) imaging 10 minutes after gadolinium administration, was performed. RESULTS: In 51 patients (63%), the final diagnosis was acute myocarditis. In all these cases, DCE was observed in subepicardial and middle segments of the myocardium. The final diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction in 12 patients (15%), all of whom exhibited subendocardial or transmural DCE. In the 9 (11%) who exhibited abnormal contractility on baseline echocardiography with subsequent normalization, CMR did not show DCE, a finding that is characteristic of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In addition, 4 patients had a final diagnosis of pericarditis, while no diagnosis could be established in another 4. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of acute myocarditis and Takotsubo syndrome can be similar to that of ACS. The presence and distribution of DCE on CMR are of great help in establishing a diagnosis.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A number of different conditions can present with symptoms similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS): chest pain, electrocardiographic changes and elevated levels of markers of myocardial damage. Even after coronary angiography has been performed, differential diagnosis can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosing conditions that present like ACS but in which the coronary arteries are normal. METHODS: The study involved 80 patients with suspected ACS and normal coronary arteries. Their mean age was 48+/-15 years and their mean troponin-T (TnT) level was 1.8+/-0.9 ng/ml. A CMR study, which involved T2-weighted imaging to detect edema and delayed contrast-enhancement (DCE) imaging 10 minutes after gadolinium administration, was performed. RESULTS: In 51 patients (63%), the final diagnosis was acute myocarditis. In all these cases, DCE was observed in subepicardial and middle segments of the myocardium. The final diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction in 12 patients (15%), all of whom exhibited subendocardial or transmural DCE. In the 9 (11%) who exhibited abnormal contractility on baseline echocardiography with subsequent normalization, CMR did not show DCE, a finding that is characteristic of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In addition, 4 patients had a final diagnosis of pericarditis, while no diagnosis could be established in another 4. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of acute myocarditis and Takotsubo syndrome can be similar to that of ACS. The presence and distribution of DCE on CMR are of great help in establishing a diagnosis.
Authors: Edouard Gerbaud; Emmanuel Harcaut; Pierre Coste; Matthew Erickson; Mathieu Lederlin; Jean Noel Labèque; Jean Marie Perron; Hubert Cochet; Pierre Dos Santos; Catherine Durrieu-Jaïs; François Laurent; Michel Montaudon Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2011-05-03 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: T Emrich; K Emrich; N Abegunewardene; K Oberholzer; C Dueber; T Muenzel; K-F Kreitner Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2015-03-18 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Jeannine A J M Hermens; Jan van Es; Clemens von Birgelen; Jeroen W Op den Akker; Lodewijk J Wagenaar Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2014-05-03 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Harmony R Reynolds; Monvadi B Srichai; Sohah N Iqbal; James N Slater; G B John Mancini; Frederick Feit; Ivan Pena-Sing; Leon Axel; Michael J Attubato; Leonid Yatskar; Rebecca T Kalhorn; David A Wood; Iryna V Lobach; Judith S Hochman Journal: Circulation Date: 2011-09-06 Impact factor: 29.690