Evolving clinical application of cardiac MRI

Abstract

Over the past decade, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a new technology representing the next major advance in noninvasive cardiac imaging. It provides unique and accurate data representative of cardiac structure, function, and perfusion at both the gross anatomical and myocardial levels. Cardiac MRI proves to be highly accurate and reproducible in many challenging areas in clinical cardiology, including diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, differentiation of ischemic from dilated cardiomyopathy, confirmation of the diagnosis of myocarditis, and definition and quantification of myocardial viability. As compelling studies support its clinical utility, the evolution of cardiac MRI is gaining speed. In many cases, such as the diagnosis of anomalous origin of the coronary arteries, it is the gold standard diagnostic technique.