Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: emerging techniques and applications

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Physics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a rapidly evolving field.
• Emerging CMR techniques offer advanced diagnostic capabilities.
• Transitioning research tools to clinical practice is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) techniques.
• To highlight applications with potential for near-future clinical adoption.
• To discuss the feasibility and benefits of these advanced imaging methods.

Main Methods:

• Four-dimensional flow CMR (4D-flow CMR) for detailed valvular and intracavity flow analysis.
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) for non-invasive 3D cardiac micro-architecture phenotyping.
• Hybrid Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance (PET-MR) for integrated functional and molecular imaging.

Main Results:

• 4D-flow CMR enables rapid, whole-heart flow quantification, feasible for clinical protocols.
• Cardiac DTI can phenotype 3D tissue micro-architecture non-invasively within minutes.
• Hybrid PET-MR combines quantitative PET data with comprehensive CMR information for heart disease assessment.

Conclusions:

• 4D-flow CMR and cardiac DTI are poised for clinical integration due to speed and non-invasive capabilities.
• Hybrid PET-MR presents significant opportunities for diagnosing ischaemic, inflammatory, and infiltrative heart diseases.
• These advanced CMR techniques enhance the diagnostic power of cardiac imaging for diverse pathologies.