Using Spectral CT Imaging to Detect Myocarditis and MINOCA in Adults with Acute Chest Pain and Unclear ECG or Troponin Results

What this Trial Is About

This research focuses on patients experiencing acute chest pain with a low to intermediate likelihood of coronary artery disease, where standard ECG and troponin tests are inconclusive or altered. It evaluates the use of a new imaging technology called Spectral CT to help identify causes of chest pain, including myocarditis and MINOCA Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries, conditions that are challenging to diagnose with conventional CT scans alone. The study is observational and cross-sectional, conducted at a single center using clinical and laboratory data alongside imaging. Participants will undergo CT examinations using Spectral CT technology, which is capable of detailed tissue characterization. This method generates specialized images that can detect features like extracellular volume, late iodine enhancement, hyperemia, and edemapotential signs of myocardial damage. The study aims to demonstrate whether Spectral CT can identify myocarditis or MINOCA in addition to excluding other causes of acute chest pain such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, and aortic syndromes. During the study, participants will receive the Spectral CT scan as part of their clinical evaluation. Researchers will analyze the images and clinical data to measure how many cases of myocarditis or MINOCA are diagnosed using this technology within one week after the examination. The study involves no treatment interventions, and participants are observed through their diagnostic process. The research is sponsored by IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna and is expected to continue until February 2027.

Role of Spectral CT in the Diagnosis of Myocarditis/MINOCA in Patients Undergoing cardioCT Investigations for Acute Chest Pain