There are a number of imaging tests that are used in the setting of acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. Each has their strengths and limitations. Experts from the European Society of Cardiac Radiology and the North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging together with other prominent imagers reviewed the literature. It is clear that there is a definite role for imaging in these patients. While comparative accuracy, convenience and cost have largely guided test decisions in the past, the introduction of newer tests is being held to a higher standard which compares patient outcomes. Multicenter randomized comparative effectiveness trials with outcome measures are required.
Introduction Venous leak evaluation remains a challenge in many ED patients. Adequate anatomical evaluation may help with optimizing therapeutic strategies. Aim Propose a new classification of venous leakage using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) cavernography, after contrast media intracavernous injection (ICI), under pharmacological stimulation. Methods Thirty-eight patients gave informed consent for the study: 34 complained of ED, unsatisfied with treatment and suspected to have cavernovenous leak; four having morphological anomalies and needing surgery. Patient's clinical history, including age, vascular risk factors, penile nitric oxide release test, Doppler ultrasound and previous treatments were evaluated. MDCT consisted in: 1-ICI of 1 mL of vasoactive medications containing papaverine, chlorydrate (20 mg), urapidil chlorydrate (2.75 mg) and alprostadil (10 mcg); 2-ICI of 20–60 cc of diluted contrast media (1/3) using 20 cc of Ioprimide (300 mg/mL); 3-Spiral MDCT acquisition and three-dimensional volume rendering. Main Outcomes Measures Erection degree was assessed using the erection hardness score (EHS); venous drainage was analyzed and deep, superficial veins (SVs), and caverno-spongious communications identified. MDCT findings were compared with clinical data. Results The deep dorsal vein (DDV) was opacified in 58% of patients and the SV in 50%. Cavernospongious communications were visible in 18.4%. Sixteen percent presented no visible drainage. A new classification of venous drainage anomalies is proposed: A—No visible drainage (N = 8); B—DDV and preprostatic plexus opacification (N = 11); C—Exclusive SV opacification (N = 10); D—Opacification of both SV and DDV (N = 9). All patients (with one exception) in group A quoted 4 at the EHS vs. none in the others groups (P < 0.0001, exact Fisher test). One patient in group A needed venous drainage due to prolonged erection. Conclusions MDCT after ICI contrast media was able to differentiate between various venous pathways in men with venous origin ED, leading to a new anatomical classification. Absence of leakage was associated with normal erection under pharmacological stimulation.
The aim of the study was to determine the potential diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced echocardiogram (ECG)-gated multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the setting of suspected acute myocarditis compared with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study group consisted of 12 consecutive patients admitted for suspected acute myocarditis less than 10 days after onset of symptoms. All patients had clinical, electrocardiographic signs, and laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis. All patients but one (severe claustrophobia) underwent cardiac MRI using T1-weighted delayed-enhancement images after injection of gadolinium. ECG-gated MDCT was performed in all patients and included a first-pass contrast-enhanced acquisition and a delayed acquisition. MRI revealed abnormal focal or multifocal myocardial enhancement and confirmed the diagnosis in 11 patients. The first-pass MDCT acquisition showed homogenous left-ventricle contrast enhancement and absence of coronary stenosis in all patients. Delayed MDCT acquisition, performed 5 min later without reinjection of contrast medium revealed multiple areas of myocardial hyperenhancement in a focal or a multifocal pattern (six and six patients, respectively). Extent and location of hyperenhancement at MDCT correlated well with that observed at MR examination for all 11 patients evaluated by both techniques (r=0.9167, p=0.0004). These preliminary results show that ECG-gated MDCT could be a useful alternative noninvasive diagnostic test in the early phase of acute myocarditis.
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