Evaluation of myocardial fat deposition by multislice computed tomography

Aim: To investigate correlations between myocardial fat deposition of unknown etiology and myocardial infarction, coronary artery stenosis, time after the infarction, aneurysmatic dilatation of arteries, and stenting or bypass operation. Patients and methods: We evaluated coronary computed tomography angiographies of 266 patients presenting with history of myocardial infarction or having risk factors for coronary artery disease, analyzed the characteristics of myocardial fat, and compared the clinical parameters of patients with and without myocardial fat. Results: 34 of the 266 patients had myocardial fat deposits. Of the 34 with myocardial fat, 47% had a history of myocardial infarction. Myocardial fat occurrence after myocardial infarction was statistically significant. Myocardial fat was more frequently associated with longer time after infarction and fewer coronary arteries involved, but without statistical significance. A bypass operation and myocardial fat deposition correlated with aneurysmatic dilatation of the coronary arteries and myocardial fat deposition within the area supplied by this artery. Conclusion: Myocardial fat was detected in 34% of patients with myocardial infarction. Myocardial fat was significantly more frequent in patients who underwent a bypass operation and those who had aneurysmatic dilatation of the coronary arteries. The frequency of myocardial fat deposition increased with the involvement of fewer coronary arteries and longer time after infarction. © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.