Imaging of the right ventricle

Abstract

For many years, the right ventricle (RV) was considered less relevant in cardiac disease than its left counterpart, partly because of limited ability to noninvasively evaluate the RV with accuracy. From an earlier period when chest x-ray and invasive contrast ventriculography were the only available imaging modalities, the development of ultrasound and nuclear techniques represented important steps forward for noninvasive RV assessment. Advances in echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging provide new insights into the anatomy and function of the RV, and its importance in health and disease. In this article, we review the current state of RV imaging.