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World J Cardiol. Nov 26, 2014; 6(11): 1192-1208
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i11.1192
Magnetic resonance imaging and multi-detector computed tomography assessment of extracellular compartment in ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial pathologies
Maythem Saeed, Steven W Hetts, Robert Jablonowski, Mark W Wilson
Maythem Saeed, Steven W Hetts, Robert Jablonowski, Mark W Wilson, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94107-5705, United States
Author contributions: Saeed M contributed in the conception, design and writing the review; Hetts SW contributed in revising the review and final approval; Jablonowski R contributed in data collection and final approval; Wilson MW contributed in revising the review and final approval.
Correspondence to: Maythem Saeed, Professor, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 185 Berry Street, Suite 350, Campus Box 0946, San Francisco, CA 94107-5705, United States. maythem.saeed@ucsf.edu
Telephone: +1-415-5146221 Fax: +1-415-3539423
Received: April 25, 2014
Revised: August 15, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Processing time: 220 Days and 10 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This review addresses recent advances of measuring of extracellular volume (ECV) in ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial pathologies. The main approaches that are used for probing ECV are equilibrium contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging/multi-detector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) longitudinal relaxation time mapping. These noninvasive techniques are currently used, but at a lower scale, as alternative to invasive endomyocardial biopsies to eliminate anesthesia, coronary catheterization and tissue sampling error. ECV measurements may aid in early detection of various myocardial pathologies. Delayed contrast enhanced-MRI (DE-MRI) and when T1-mapping demonstrated sub-epicardium, sub-endocardial and patchy mid-myocardial enhancement in myocarditis, Behcet’s disease and sarcoidosis, respectively. Furthermore, recent studies showed that the combined technique of cine, T2-weighted and DE-MRI technique has high diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocarditis. When the tomographic techniques are coupled with myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function it can provide valuable information on the progression of myocardial pathologies and effectiveness of new therapies.