Delineating Myocardial Edema and Hemorrhage Using T2, T2*, and Diastolic Wall Thickness Post Acute Myocardial Infarction at 2 Early Time Intervals

Mohammad Imran Zia¹, Nilesh R. Ghugre¹, Gideon A. Paul¹, Jeffrey A. Stainsby¹, Venkat Ramanan¹, Kim A. Connelly¹, Graham A. Wright¹, Alexander J. Dick¹

Our goal was to demonstrate myocardial edema using T2 spiral and diastolic wall thickness (DWT) and myocardial hemorrhage using T2* in patients post acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at 48 hours and 3 weeks. Assessing the presence and evolution of edema and myocardial hemorrhage early post AMI demonstrates distinct patterns. If myocardial hemorrhage is present, then early scans are affected by the competing effects of T2*, counteracting an increased T2 signal. This may be important in accurately quantifying AAR and identifying those patients most likely to suffer deleterious left ventricular remodeling.