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Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in valvular heart disease
Author(s) -
Koskenvuo Juha W.,
Järvinen Vesa,
Pärkkä Jussi P.,
Kiviniemi Tuomas O.,
Hartiala Jaakko J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-097x.2009.00865.x
Subject(s) - medicine , valvular heart disease , magnetic resonance imaging , cardiology , heart disease , cardiac magnetic resonance imaging , cardiac imaging , radiology , disease
Summary Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has rapidly gained acceptance as an accurate, reproducible and non‐invasive imaging method for assessment of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. However, CMR has not been used widely for diagnostic purposes in valvular heart disease (VHD). Unlike echocardiography it has no body habitus‐related limitations and can thus be used to complement echocardiography. It is an especially good alternative for clinical follow‐up in patients with VHD, as it allows accurate measurement of valvular dysfunction and related ventricular burden. Additionally, CMR is an ideal method for evaluating complex congenital heart disease and determining the significance of its components. It can also be used to study the physiological course of valvular dysfunction and response to therapeutic interventions. In this review, we present a basic introduction to CMR methodology, including its advantages and potential problems, and the physiology and quantification in VHD. We also discuss clinical applications of CMR in VHD. Furthermore, we describe how a CMR study statement should be structured in order to increase clinical use of this valuable methodology in cardiology.