Bringing MRI to the cardiologist: can we learn from echocardiography?
Cardiac MRI (CMR) is a low-risk, comprehensive diagnostic tool that has many similarities with echocardiography. It is noninvasive, lacks ionizing radiation, and the contrast material used to enhance various images does not have any renal toxicity. Although extremely valuable in the diagnosis of neurologic and musculoskeletal diseases for more than two decades, CMR has only recently become relevant for diagnosing the rapidly beating and constantly mobile heart. Through advances in cardiac gating and high-speed acquisition software, CMR is positioning itself as a critical utensil at the cardiovascular disease banquet. However, like echocardiography, currently celebrating its 50th birthday, CMR is likely to suffer occasional growing pains, along with its share of accomplishments. Therefore, those practicing CMR should learn from the past errors and achievements of echocardiography in an effort to deliver the most rewarding diagnostic instrument imaginable, without having to wait 50 years.
Sorrell
Vincent L
VL
Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Allan C. Hudson and Helen Lovaas Endowed Chair of Cardiac Imaging, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Tucson, AZ 85724-5037, USA. vsorrell@email.arizona.edu
D002309:Cardiology / Q000639:trends*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016276:Ventricular Function