[Differential diagnostic classification of ECG findings, incorporating cardiac MRI imaging]

Tissue characterization including the visualization of scar, fibrosis, fatty infiltration and inflammation using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows a comprehensive assessment of the etiology of different cardiac diseases. Visualization of the pattern and extent of myocardial contrast uptake using late gadolinium enhancement MRI markedly improves the interpretation of ECG findings especially in cardiomyopathies and inflammatory myocardial diseases. In patients with ventricular tachycardia, the identification and characterization of the ventricular arrhythmia substrate using cardiac MRI provides important insights in the etiology and is increasingly important for the risk stratification as well as the subsequent medical and interventional therapy.