Left ventricular lipomatous metaplasia following myocardial infarction

Abstract

We present 3 cases of left ventricular lipomatous metaplasia after myocardial infarction evaluated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Delayed enhancement CMR alone cannot differentiate lipomatous metaplasia from scar. T1-weighted images with and without fat suppression are needed to identify this condition. The aetiology, pathophysiology, and possible clinical significance of lipomatous metaplasia in infarcted myocardium are still unknown. The multi-parametric capabilities of CMR make it the ideal modality to identify non-invasively, and without exposure to radiation, individuals with lipomatous metaplasia. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.