Is multislice computed tomography of value for the imaging of myocardial infarction?
Evaluation of: Mahnken A, Koos R, Katoh M et al.: Assessment of myocardial viability in reperfused acute myocardial infarction using 16-slice computed tomography in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 12, 2042-2047 (2005). Myocardial contrast-enhanced (CE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a relatively new and well-validated technique for imaging both cell damage and scar resulting from myocardial infarction. Multislice (16-slice) x-ray computed tomography (MSCT) has recently been suggested as a means for imaging acute myocardial infarction. Both CMR and MSCT are becoming increasingly available, are less invasive than catheter-based techniques and have high spatial three-dimensional resolution, allowing interrogation and sizing of acute myocardial infarction. The cell damage in acute myocardial infarction may be distinguished from normal myocardium by either technique. But while both CMR and MSCT show agreement for infarct localization and size determination, MSCT exposes the patient to substantial ionizing radiation and to possible kidney damage associated with the necessary administration of radio-opaque, iodinated, contrast medium. Furthermore MSCT does not demonstrate the presence of pathological consequences of myocardial infarction, myocardial scarring. These points must be considered when choosing the most appropriate approach for the imaging of acute and/or chronic myocardial infarction.
Souibri
Karam
K
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Pohost
Gerald M
GM