Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 3, Issue 6 , Pages 409-411, November 2009

Evaluation of myocarditis with delayed-enhancement computed tomography

  • Kelly Axsom, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
    • ,
  • Fay Lin, MD

      Affiliations

    • The Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th Street, K415, New York, NY 10021, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Jonathan W. Weinsaft, MD

      Affiliations

    • The Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th Street, K415, New York, NY 10021, USA
    • ,
  • James K. Min, MD

      Affiliations

    • The Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th Street, K415, New York, NY 10021, USA

Received 8 May 2009; accepted 16 September 2009. published online 25 September 2009.

Abstract 

A healthy 19-year-old man with no history of substance abuse presented with 3 days of dyspnea and chest pressure relieved by leaning forward associated with nausea, emesis, and diarrhea. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) showed normal coronary artery anatomy and no evidence of coronary artery plaque. The delayed-enhancement CCTA showed patchy epicardial and mid-myocardial enhancement of the wall and apex, consistent with myocardial inflammation. Delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) performed the following day confirmed patchy, diffuse epicardial hyperenhancement of the lateral wall, septum, and apex consistent with myocardial inflammation. Both CCTA and CMR supported the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. Delayed-enhancement CCTA is correlated with delayed-enhancement CMR in acute myocarditis by territory and extent and can show late hyperenhancement that can be transmural, subepicardial, or confined to small foci within a layer of the myocardium. Delayed-enhancement CCTA has potential utility for simultaneous evaluation of coronary arteries and myocardial inflammation in suspected myocarditis.

Keywords: Computed tomography, Delayed enhancement, Magnetic resonance, Myocarditis

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Conflict of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

PII: S1934-5925(09)00500-0

doi:10.1016/j.jcct.2009.09.003

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 3, Issue 6 , Pages 409-411, November 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution