Temporal Features of Edema in Acute Myocardial Infarction: T2 Maps Vs T2-STIR

Avinash Kali¹, ², Andreas Kumar³, Dror Berel², Veronica L M Rundell⁴, Richard Tang², James Min², Rohan Dharmakumar², ⁴

The temporal features of myocardial edema during ischemia and post-reperfusion were studied using T2 maps and T2-STIR images. Relative edema, infarct volumes and myocardial salvage were measured at baseline, during ischemia and one and 8 weeks post-reperfusion. Relative to baseline, a significant edema volume was apparent during ischemia, but was markedly elevated and remained constant up to one-week post-reperfusion, and regressed to baseline levels by week 8. Ischemic edema volume was not indicative of post-reperfusion edema volume. Myocardial salvage was constant for one-week post-reperfusion. T2 maps and T2-STIR images appear to provide equivalent information on myocardial edema and salvage.