Figure 2.

The importance of defining at‐risk myocardium, myocardial infarction, and myocardial salvage in the assessment of therapeutic efficacy for acute coronary syndrome. Two different examples of acute ischemic myocardial injury in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery territory are illustrated. Corresponding delayed‐enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE‐CMR) images in the short axis and 4 chamber orientations are shown for each example. Overall infarct size in each example is similar, but the amount of at‐risk myocardium and severity of ischemic injury differs. A, Proximal LAD occlusion (arrowhead) with large area of at‐risk myocardium (orange shading), subendocardial myocardial infarction, and significant myocardial salvage, suggesting less severe ischemic injury. B, Distal LAD occlusion (arrowhead) with small area of at‐risk myocardium (orange shading), transmural myocardial infarction, and no myocardial salvage, suggesting more severe ischemic injury.