Heart failure (HF) may be the endpoint of various cardiac diseases. This
emphasizes the need for a diagnostic method that can accurately establish the diagnosis
of HF and define the underlying mechanisms of the condition. This is necessary for the
selection of the appropriate therapeutic method (medication, revascularization or
resynchronization therapy) in order to achieve the optimal response. Cardiac magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging imaging method that can be used for
quantification of ventricular function, as a baseline and also for follow-up of HF
patients after treatment. It has great contribution in differentiation of the cardiac
diseases (e.g. ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, cardiomyopathies with
myocardial hypertrophy, etc.) by providing tissue characterization. This chapter
describes the technique of cardiac MRI examination and focuses on typical imaging
characteristics that aid in the differentiation among cardiac conditions that may result in
HF, according to their frequency and their importance in treatment selection. The
parameters measured by cardiac MRI that play a role in the prognosis of the disease
and therapeutic decision, are also discussed. Finally we present the role of cardiac MRI
in cardiac resynchronization therapy and its predictive role in the therapeutic outcome.
Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, Cardiac resynchronization
therapy, Cardiomyopathy, Congenital heart disease, Etiology, Heart failure,
Ischemic heart disease, Late gadolinium enhancement, Pericardial disease,
Prognosis, Valvular heart disease.
