Myocardial late gadolinium enhancement in specific cardiomyopathies by cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a preliminary experience.
Late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can visualize myocardial interstitial abnormalities. The aim of this study was to assess whether regions of abnormal myocardium can also be visualized by late enhancement gadolinium CMR in the specific cardiomyopathies. A retrospective review of all referrals for gadolinium CMR with specific cardiomyopathy over 20 months. Nine patients with different specific cardiomyopathies were identified. Late enhancement was demonstrated in all patients, with a mean signal intensity of 390 +/- 220% compared with normal regions. The distribution pattern of late enhancement was unlike the subendocardial late enhancement related to coronary territories found in myocardial infarction. The affected areas included papillary muscles (sarcoid), the mid-myocardium (Anderson-Fabry disease, glycogen storage disease, myocarditis, Becker muscular dystrophy) and the global sub-endocardium (systemic sclerosis, Loeffler's endocarditis, amyloid, Churg-Strauss). Focal myocardial late gadolinium enhancement is found in the specific cardiomyopathies, and the pattern is distinct from that seen in infarction. Further systematic studies are warranted to assess whether the pattern and extent of late enhancement may aid diagnosis and prognostic assessment.
Silva
Caterina
C
Centre for Advanced Magnetic Resonance in Cardiology (CAMRIC), Royal Brompton Hospital, London SW3 6NP, UK. caterina.silva@unipd.it
Moon
James C
JC
Elkington
Andrew G
AG
John
Anna S
AS
Mohiaddin
Raad H
RH
Pennell
Dudley J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium