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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac MRI is a non-invasive examination that brought important arguments for the diagnosis of tubercular myocarditis in the 3 patients.
Breton
Guillaume
G
Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, 46, rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France.
Leclerc
Stéphanie
S
Longuet
Pascale
P
Leport
Catherine
C
Vildé
Jean-Louis
JL
Laissy
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014381:Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000995:Antitubercular Agents