Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis and management of many cardiac diseases has been established in clinical practice. It provides anatomic and functional information and is the most precise technique for quantification of ventricular volume, function and mass. Among cardiac MRI sequences used in clinical practice, delayed contrast enhancement is an accurate and reliable method used in the diagnosis of ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies. In addition, new technology applied in echocardiographic imaging has permitted quantification of myocardial deformations with 2-dimensional strain imaging (longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain). Cardiac MRI and echocardiography therefore both play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Di Bella and colleagues have defined the roles of cardiac MRI and echocardiography in many clinical and experimental settings.
Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Cardiomyopathy; Heart failure; Myocardial infarction; Myocarditis; Strain echocardiography.