T2 mapping post acute myocardial infarction: a novel technique in assessing myocardial edema

Abstract Objective Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is considered the gold standard imaging modality for assessing myocardial infarction lesions, offering precise myocardial tissue characterization. Elevated transverse relaxation time (T2) serves as a specific indicator of increased myocardial water content, thus becoming a valuable index for myocardial edema. However, conventional T2-weighted CMR sequence exhibits several limitations, primarily providing qualitative information. In contrast, recently developed quantitative T2 mapping techniques overcome these limitations, enabling a more reliable assessment of myocardial edema. These techniques offer the advantage of diagnosing and monitoring myocardial injury without the necessity of contrast agents. Our study aims to add to a growing literature demonstrating the efficacy of quantitative T2 mapping technique to detect and quantify regions of myocardial edema post-myocardial infarction. Result Native T1 and T2 mapping accurately identified myocardial edema in all patients enrolled in the study. Notably, native T1 and T2 values exhibited a significant elevation in the infarcted myocardium compared to the remote myocardium (for T1: 1295.50 ± 87.65 vs. 1074.95 ± 92.86 ms, respectively; and for T2: 74.63 ± 6.51 vs. 52.53 ± 6.26 ms, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both). Microvascular obstruction was observed in 12 out of 20 patients, affecting one or more myocardial segments within the infarct areas. Among this subgroup, regions with a microvascular obstruction within the infarct zone displayed lower T1 and T2 values compared to areas of infarction without microvascular obstruction (for T1: 1115.05 ± 64.70 vs. 1295.50 ± 87.65 ms, respectively; and for T2: 53.65 ± 3.56 vs. 74.63 ± 6.51 ms, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both). Additionally, we provided reference values for myocardial T1 and T2 specific to our facility’s 1.5 Tesla CMR system, applicable to both infarct and remote myocardium. Conclusion Parametric T1 and T2 mapping techniques can detect and quantify myocardial edema resulting from myocardial infarction. The presence of microvascular obstruction that results from revascularization injury affects both T1 and T2 values. This information can be used and has broad clinical implications for diagnosis and guiding or monitoring the treatment of myocardial infarction.