Architecture of the myocardium in computed tomography.

To determine whether current concepts of myocardial organization were in fact the result of artifacts introduced by the dissection technique, a method comprising air injection of the coronary arteries (which gently separated the myocardial fibers) and computerized tomography was devised. Viewing the tomographs cinematographically confirmed the concept that the heart is formed by a double looping of myocardial fiber bands was correct. Examination of abnormal hearts, eg, one with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, shows that pathologic tissue disarrangements could also be identified.