Mousseaux E, Hernigou A, Azencot M, Sapoval M, Auguste M, Papo T, Chauvaud S, Gaux J C
Department of Cardiovascular Radiology, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
Radiology. 1996 Mar;198(3):755-60. doi: 10.1148/radiology.198.3.8628866.
To present morphologic and functional electron-beam computed tomographic (CT) features of endomyocardial fibrosis.
Twelve patients with histologic evidence of endomyocardial fibrosis and/or definitive echocardiographic and angiocardiographic findings were examined with electron-beam CT.
Endomyocardial fibrosis was depicted as linear calcifications and/or a thin tissue band of low attenuation within the endomyocardium. In right ventricular involvement, CT depicted obliteration of the apex associated with extension along the free wall and/or papillary muscles of the tricuspid valve. In left ventricular involvement, a large amount of endocardial tissue led to severe obliteration within the inflow tract and/or of the apex. At ventricular volume analysis, restrictive patterns of the disease were determined.
Electron-beam CT allows direct visualization of endomyocardial fibrosis and the resulting volumetric changes and enables distinction of the disease from constrictive pericarditis.
