Acute Myocardial Infarction: Myocardial Viability Assessment in Patients Early Thereafter—Comparison of Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging with Resting201Tl SPECT

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare contrast material–enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with resting thallium 201 (201Tl) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for predicting myocardial viability in patients early after acute myocardial infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inversion-recovery contrast-enhanced MR images and resting 201Tl SPECT images were obtained in 22 patients after acute myocardial infarction. The 201Tl SPECT images were obtained 4.3 days ± 0.2 (standard error) after the onset of myocardial infarction. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was performed 7.9 days ± 1.6 after 201Tl SPECT. Transmural extent of hyperenhancement on contrast-enhanced MR images and regional 201Tl activity were quantitatively analyzed with a 12-segment model. Regional wall thickening on follow-up cine MR images obtained 67 days ± 17 after contrast-enhanced MR imaging was used as an index for myocardial viability. Statistical analyses were performed with the χ2 and two-tailed Student t tests. RESULTS: Both contrast-enh...