Radiology Case Reports (Oct 2020)

Acute myocardial infarction on Nongated chest computed tomography

  • Maria Salgado Guerrero, MD,
  • Gabriela Cepeda De Jesus, MD,
  • Wakil Irfan, MD,
  • Geraldine Villasana Gomez, MD,
  • Ana B. Arevalo, MD,
  • Robert Faillace, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 10
pp. 1837 – 1840

Abstract

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Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) is not considered part of the evaluation of myocardial infarction. However, acute myocardial infarction has been detected on contrast-enhanced chest CT as areas of decreased myocardial enhancement in patients evaluated for other indications, such as pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection. We present a case of acute myocardial infarction on a nongated chest CT in a 67-year-old male who presented with atypical chest pain and initial nondiagnostic electrocardiogram. This case highlights that acute myocardial infarction may be detectable on contrast-enhanced CT. When evaluating contrast-enhanced chest CT's for other etiologies of chest pain, radiologists should look for potential myocardial perfusion abnormalities that can provide clues to the presence of myocardial infarction.

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