Background: Acute myocarditis can present as an ACS with elevated ST segment and elevated level of troponin mimicking myocardial infarction. Aim: To determine the potential diagnostic value of ECG-gated multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the setting of suspected acute myocarditis. Patients and methods: The study group consisted of 12 consecutive patients admitted for suspected acute myocarditis less than 5 days after onset of symptoms. All patients had clinical, electrocardiographic signs, and laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis. ECGgated MDCT was performed in all patients and included a first-pass contrast-enhanced acquisition and a delayed low dose acquisition performed 5 min later without reinjection of contrast medium. 3 patients underwent cardiac MRI with injection of gadolinium. Results: The first-pass MDCT acquisition showed absence of coronary stenosis in all patients. Delayed MDCT acquisition, revealed multiple areas of sub epicardial myocardial hyperenhancement in 9 patients. This hyperhencement was confirmed in the 3 MRI examinations. Conclusion: ECG-gated MDCT could be a useful alternative non-invasive diagnostic test in the early phase of acute myocarditis, especially in the context of emergency and when MRI is unavailable.
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