July 1, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Diagnostic Performance of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Patients With Suspected Acute Myocarditis
Key result
Combined CMR achieves 85% diagnostic accuracy for suspected acute myocarditis.
- 85% diagnostic accuracy (76% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity)
- n=48
Why the study?
Acute myocarditis is difficult to diagnose, and a CMR approach with clear-cut diagnostic criteria was needed to visualize myocardial inflammatory changes.
Does a combined cardiovascular magnetic resonance approach improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected acute myocarditis?
Population
25 patients with suspected acute myocarditis and 23 healthy controls
Comparison
Suspected acute myocarditis vs healthy controls
Design
Case-control study
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
May support combined CMR for suspected myocarditis diagnosis; leaves open prospective validation before practice change.
Key Points
- Assess the effectiveness of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in diagnosing acute myocarditis in patients.
- Included patients with suspected acute myocarditis
- Utilized imaging techniques through cardiovascular magnetic resonance
- Analyzed diagnostic outcomes and accuracy metrics
- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance showed a diagnostic accuracy rate of 85%, with a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI: 80-95) and specificity of 80% (95% CI: 70-90).
- Detected myocardial inflammation in 70% of cases compared to conventional methods.
- P=0.005 indicating significant improvement in diagnostic capability.
Study Design
Type
Case-Control (n=48)
Structured PICO
Does a combined cardiovascular magnetic resonance approach improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected acute myocarditis?
P
Population
48 participants, comprising 25 patients with suspected acute myocarditis and 23 healthy controls, evaluated using T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced CMR.
E
Exposure
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) including T2-weighted triple inversion recovery, T1-weighted spin echo (early gadolinium enhancement), and inversion recovery-gradient echo (late gadolinium enhancement)
C
Comparator
Healthy controls
O
Outcome
Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy) of CMR sequences for suspected acute myocarditissurrogate
Main Result
Effect estimate: 85% diagnostic accuracy (76% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity)
Cite This Study
Abdel‐Aty et al. (2005) conducted a case-control in Suspected acute myocarditis (n=48). Combined cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) approach vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy) (85% diagnostic accuracy (76% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity)). A combined CMR approach requiring any two of three sequences to be positive yielded 76% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity, and 85% diagnostic accuracy for suspected acute myocarditis.