Cardiac rupture in acute myocardial infarction: Post-mortem MR imaging

Abstract

We assessed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiac rupture in an autopsy using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in vitro and histological staining. Cardiac MR imaging in vitro generated high resolution images of myocardial thinning, rupture, and epicardial hemorrhage. High signal intensity (SI) on T 1 weighted images (WI) and low SI on T 2WI of the rupture site corresponded with acute myocardial necrosis, edema, and hemorrhage. A rupture site rich in erythrocytes after AMI might affect SI on T 1 and T 2WI in cardiac MR imaging.