Linear late gadolinium enhancement in the basal anterior septum and lateral wall may represent the contrast enhancement of vessels: A CMR and CCTA comparison study.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this paper was to verify that the linear high-intensity signal on late gadolinium enhancement-cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) may represent the contrast enhancement of vessels rather than scars or fibrosis, and to assess whether this linear high-intensity signal will affect the quantification of myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

METHODS

A total of 58 patients who underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and LGE-CMR in our hospital were ultimately enrolled. The definitions of positive linear LGE (LLGE+) were as follows: (1) LLGE in the basal anterior septum or lateral wall, and (2) LLGE observable at 10 mm or more. All other patients were regarded as negative LLGE (LLGE-). In LLGE+ patients, the length of the LLGE located in the anterior septum and lateral wall was compared with the length of the septal perforator artery and the circumflex artery on CCTA, respectively. For nine patients with HCM, the LGE% was measured before and after removal of LLGE.

RESULTS

Among the 58 patients, 40 showed LLGE+ and 18 showed LLGE-. For patients with LLGE in the anterior septum, there was a strong correlation between LLGE and anterior septal perforator arteries in length (r=0.887, p<0.001). For patients with LLGE in the lateral wall, LLGE also correlated well with the circumflex arteries in length (r=0.962, p<0.001). In nine patients with HCM, the LGE% decreased significantly after the removal of LLGE [9.50 (7.70 - 17.35)% vs. 8.80 (6.20 - 15.55)%, p<0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

The LLGE in the anterior septum and lateral wall may represent contrast enhancement of the anterior septal perforator artery and the circumflex artery, respectively. This LLGE may overestimate the extent of myocardial fibrosis in patients with HCM.