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Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
06:29

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques

Published on: June 11, 2019

The emerging role of cardiovascular MRI for suspected cardioembolic stroke

E T D Hoey1, K Mankad, H Al-Chalabi

  • 1Department of Radiology, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.

Clinical Radiology
|September 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac MRI is increasingly vital for diagnosing cardioembolic stroke, a major cause of disability. This review details its role, techniques, and applications in identifying stroke sources from the heart or aorta.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Stroke is a primary cause of long-term disability globally, frequently stemming from emboli originating in the heart or aorta (cardioembolic stroke).
  • Echocardiography has been the traditional method for investigating cardioembolic stroke.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has advanced significantly, becoming crucial in cardiovascular imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving role of cardiac MRI in diagnosing cardioembolic stroke.
  • To provide an understanding of cardiac MRI's capabilities across various cardioembolic sources.
  • To outline indications, technical aspects, and an imaging algorithm for cardiac MRI in stroke evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cardiac MRI applications in cardioembolic stroke.
  • Analysis of technical considerations and imaging protocols for cardiac MRI.
  • Compilation of illustrative examples of disease entities causing cardioembolic stroke.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac MRI offers a comprehensive assessment of cardioembolic sources.
  • The review details specific indications and technical requirements for effective cardiac MRI.
  • An imaging algorithm is proposed to guide the use of cardiac MRI in clinical practice.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac MRI is a powerful tool for evaluating patients with suspected cardioembolic stroke.
  • Understanding its capabilities and appropriate application is essential for optimizing stroke diagnosis and management.
  • This review serves as a guide to the utility of cardiac MRI in identifying diverse cardioembolic stroke etiologies.

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