Myocarditis differential diagnosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Myocarditis presents with chest pain and ST segment elevation. Myocardiits must be distinguished from the life threatening condition of ST elevation myocardial infarction and pericarditis.
Differentiating Myocarditis from ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Both diseases present with chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and focal left ventricular dysfunction. There are two studies that can be used to distinguish the two syndromes:
Coronary Angiography
Coronary angiography can be performed to distinguish myocarditis from ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. ST segment elevation myocardial infarction is associated with either complete or subtotal occlusion of an epicardial coronary artery on coronary angiography.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is also useful in distinguishing between the two syndromes as well. On cardiac MRI, myocarditis is associated with patchy, non-sentimental, hyperenhancement which is confined to the epicardial layer of the myocardium. In contrast, in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction there is confluent hyperenhancement extending from the endocardium in a distribution that mimics the distribution of the epicardial coronary arteries.