title: Diffuse diseases of the myocardium: MRI-pathologic review of nondilated cardiomyopathies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article will present correlation of the key radiologic findings with gross and microscopic pathology for the characterization of diffuse myocardial diseases using advanced imaging techniques. Our goal is to provide a focused and in-depth review of the pathophysiology underlying each entity and to emphasize the structural basis for the corresponding imaging characteristics. This article is limited to those disorders characterized by ventricular wall thickening without chamber dilatation, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, and cardiac amyloidosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the characterization of diffuse myocardial diseases using advanced imaging techniques, it is essential to understand the underlying pathologic changes in the heart. With these techniques, such as cardiac MRI, the various cardiomyopathies can be differentiated accurately, which may potentially obviate invasive testing and endomyocardial biopsy.
authors: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo 2S-131, 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. giesbrandt.kirk@mayo.edu
authors: Kirk J
authors: KJ
authors: Giesbrandt
authors: Candice W
authors: CW
authors: Bolan
authors: Brian P
authors: BP
authors: Shapiro
authors: William D
authors: WD
authors: Edwards
authors: Patricia J
authors: PJ
authors: Mergo
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*