Computed tomography of the heart: initial experience.

Computed tomography (CT) provides non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac lesions by direct demonstration of the myocardium and the individual cavities of the heart. The potential role of CT scanning in the detection and quantitation of acute myocardial infarction has been previously investigated in experimental animals. Initial experience in assessing 10 patients admitted with recent infarction on biochemical and electrocardiographic evidence is reported. Intravenous infusion of iodinated contrast agents produced contrast enhancement either of the rim or diffusely through the myocardium in the area of infarct, as sited electrocardiographically. Patients with coronary artery bypass grafts and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have also been studied by this method. Cardiac CT with intravenous administration of contrast may have an important role in the future in assessment and follow-up of ischaemic heart disease.