Comments on: Shorter Difference Between Myocardium and Blood Optimal Inversion Time Suggests Diffuse Fibrosis in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

By: Jacobo Kirsch, MD

Jacobo Kirsch, MD — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:22:33 +0000

As commented above, this is a very interesting topic – both pathophysiologically as well as clinically. Outcome data would be probably be tremendously helpful (or not).
Also, correlation with LV mass may be interesting, though a larger cohort may be needed to find any significance. The degree of underlying fibrosis in these patients may correlate with the associated hypertrophic change in DCM.

By: Phillip M. Young, MD

Phillip M. Young, MD — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:57:01 +0000

The presence of diffuse or faint myocardial fibrosis is an issue when imaging different pathologic conditions, among others including amyloidosis and hypertophic cardiomyopathy. This nicely illustrates that point. This addresses that issue with use of optimal TI difference. The issue remains problematic given different contrast agents, analytical software packages, etc, but does highlight an interesting approach to a not-infrequent problem.