[Usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluation of left ventricular apical aneurysm].

Twenty three consecutive cases of left ventricular aneurysm due to antero-septal myocardial infarction in normal sinus rhythm were studied to decide whether or not magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can evaluate aneurysm of the left ventricular apex. The apex, as well as the base, of the left ventricle was clearly imaged in 21 out of 23 cases. Poor images were obtained in two cases who showed frequent premature ventricular beats during this procedure. Two-dimensional echocardiography has weak points when visualizing left ventricular apex because, for one thing, the sector angle is maximally 90 degrees, and for another, the cardiac apex is too near the probe for observation of the characteristic of the left ventricular apical wall. However, MRI can make up for the above weak points and can provide supportive information by visualizing the entire left ventricular apex.