title: Utility of 64-MSCT in assessing acute non-reperfused myocardial infarct size.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the utility of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in assessing acute non-reperfused myocardial infarct size.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven domestic pigs (mean weight 17.3 ± 1.9 kg) underwent ligation of the distal left anterior descending artery to establish a model of acute myocardial infarction (MI). MSCT and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were performed two hours later. The following data were acquired and analyzed: MI volume (%), CT values of the infarcted region, left ventricular cavity and normal cardiac tissue at various scanning time-points (1, 5, 10, 15, 20 min after contrast injection).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using MSCT, the overall MI volume showed a time-dependent decrease, with a reduction of 28.87% after 20 min. The greatest reduction occurred at the 5 min time-point. In TTC staining, MI volume was 9.87% ± 2.44%. When MI size, as determined by MSCT, was compared with that by TTC staining in Bland-Altman plots, there was a better agreement at 5, 10, and 15 min time-points at 1 and 20 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates that double-phase scanning examination using MSCT is a useful tool to assess MI size, and the optimal late-phase scanning time-point set within 5-15 min of contrast injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Kai
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Wei-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jian-Ding
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Ruo-Gu
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Acute non-reperfused myocardial infarction; Animal model; Multi-slice computed tomography; Time-factors