The dysfunctional right ventricle: the importance of multi-modality imaging

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Right ventricular (RV) function assessment is critical for diagnosing dyspnea and venous congestion.
• RV function provides significant prognostic information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review various imaging modalities for assessing RV function.
• To discuss the complementary use of different techniques based on clinical scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Review of standard and advanced echocardiography.
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).
• Computed tomography (CT) and radionuclide techniques.

Main Results:

• Multiple imaging modalities can reliably assess RV function.
• Each technique has unique strengths and weaknesses.
• The choice of modality depends on the clinical context.

Conclusions:

• RV function assessment is crucial for patient evaluation and prognosis.
• Different imaging techniques should be used complementarily.
• Reliable RV function assessment predicts clinical outcomes.