Cardiac MRI is an emerging noninvasive, nonionizing, and non-nephrotoxic imaging modality of choice for diagnosing and monitoring acute myocarditis.
Cardiac MRI is highlighted as a safe, noninvasive, and effective imaging modality of choice for diagnosing and monitoring acute myocarditis while rapidly ruling out acute coronary syndrome.
The diagnosis of acute myocarditis can be challenging, primarily because of the clinical diversity at presentation, the nonspecificity of traditional noninvasive tests, as well as the poor diagnostic yield and potential complications inherent with endomyocardial biopsy. Contrast-enhanced and nonenhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as an imaging modality of choice to diagnose and monitor the progression of myocarditis. MRI is nonionizing, non-nephrotoxic, and in comparison to coronary angiography, allows the clinician to rapidly eliminate irreversible ischemic injury (acute coronary syndrome) from the differential diagnosis. This timely review discusses the advantages and limitations of cardiac MRI over alternative diagnostic modalities and offers a practical approach to the contemporary diagnosis and assessment of acute myocarditis.
Nelson et al. (2008) conducted a review in Acute Myocarditis. Cardiac MRI vs. Alternative diagnostic modalities was evaluated. Cardiac MRI is an emerging noninvasive, nonionizing, and non-nephrotoxic imaging modality of choice for diagnosing and monitoring acute myocarditis.