Cardiovascular MRI: its current and future use in clinical practice

Abstract

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a comprehensive clinical tool for assessing a large variety of cardiovascular diseases. Using the clinical service of the Duke Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Center as an example, we describe how to perform image contractile function, myocardial perfusion at stress and rest, myocardial viability, cardiovascular morphology, vascular anatomy and blood flow tests. The emergence of successful dedicated CMR services presents an opportunity to optimize patient throughput by streamlining the user interface of CMR scanners, standardizing the viewing format and reporting software, and customizing training programs to focus on the standardized CMR approaches. Accordingly, we discuss potential pathways to create these standards. Finally, we discuss several promising new CMR techniques we expect will complement existing clinical procedures.

Keywords::

• cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging
• CMR
• contrast agent
• future perspectives
• heart
• myocardial viability
• stress perfusion
• user interface
• viewing format

Notes

Nearly all cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging can be done by picking one or more items from the Exam Menu. Scout imaging is always performed and is always the first scan for collecting the standard cardiac views. Cine imaging is almost always performed. The other items are selected or skipped depending on the referring physician’s request.