open access

Vol 17, No 6 (2010)
Review Article
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2010-12-08
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Prognostic significance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: Update 2010

Vinzenz Hombach, Nico Merkle, Peter Bernhardt, Volker Rasche, Wolfgang Rottbauer
DOI: 10.5603/cj.21302
·
Cardiol J 2010;17(6):549-557.

open access

Vol 17, No 6 (2010)
Review articles
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2010-12-08

Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become an indispensible imaging technique for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Technical advances in the past have rendered CMR unique in the evaluation of cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology due to its unique ability to produce high resolution tomographic images of the human heart and vessels in any arbitrary orientation, with soft tissue contrast that is superior to competing imaging modalities without the use of ionizing radiation. CMR imaging is the gold standard for assessing left and right ventricular function and for detecting myocardial tissue abnormalities like edema, infarction, or scars. For prognostic reasons abnormal structure and dysfunction of the heart, and the detection of myocardial ischemia and/or myocardial scars are the main targets for CMR imaging. In this review we briefly describe the prognostic significance of several CMR imaging techniques and special CMR parameters in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with cardiomyopathies, and with chronic heart failure. Myocardial ischemia proved to be a strong predictor of an adverse outcome in patients with CAD. Microvascular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction is a new and independent parameter of negative left ventricular remodeling and a worse prognosis. Myocardial scars in patients with CAD and unrecognized myocardial infarction heralds a negative outcome. Scar in patients with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are a strong predictor of both life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prognosis. CMR imaging may improve the assessment of inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony and provide prognostic information by detecting myocardial scars. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 6: 549-557)

Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become an indispensible imaging technique for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Technical advances in the past have rendered CMR unique in the evaluation of cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology due to its unique ability to produce high resolution tomographic images of the human heart and vessels in any arbitrary orientation, with soft tissue contrast that is superior to competing imaging modalities without the use of ionizing radiation. CMR imaging is the gold standard for assessing left and right ventricular function and for detecting myocardial tissue abnormalities like edema, infarction, or scars. For prognostic reasons abnormal structure and dysfunction of the heart, and the detection of myocardial ischemia and/or myocardial scars are the main targets for CMR imaging. In this review we briefly describe the prognostic significance of several CMR imaging techniques and special CMR parameters in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with cardiomyopathies, and with chronic heart failure. Myocardial ischemia proved to be a strong predictor of an adverse outcome in patients with CAD. Microvascular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction is a new and independent parameter of negative left ventricular remodeling and a worse prognosis. Myocardial scars in patients with CAD and unrecognized myocardial infarction heralds a negative outcome. Scar in patients with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are a strong predictor of both life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prognosis. CMR imaging may improve the assessment of inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony and provide prognostic information by detecting myocardial scars. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 6: 549-557)
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Keywords

cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; late gadolinium enhancement; prognosis; coronary artery disease; dilated cardiomyopathy; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; chronic heart failure; cardiac resynchronization therapy

About this article
Title

Prognostic significance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: Update 2010

Journal

Cardiology Journal

Issue

Vol 17, No 6 (2010)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

549-557

Published online

2010-12-08

Page views

1154

Article views/downloads

2044

DOI

10.5603/cj.21302

Bibliographic record

Cardiol J 2010;17(6):549-557.

Keywords

cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
late gadolinium enhancement
prognosis
coronary artery disease
dilated cardiomyopathy
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
chronic heart failure
cardiac resynchronization therapy

Authors

Vinzenz Hombach
Nico Merkle
Peter Bernhardt
Volker Rasche
Wolfgang Rottbauer

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