Multimodality imaging in cardiac amyloidosis: State-of-the-art review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Amyloidosis is a systemic disease involving amyloid fibril deposition in organs, notably the heart.
• Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) presents challenges in diagnosis, necessitating high clinical suspicion.
• Early detection is crucial for initiating timely and effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of multimodality imaging in diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis.
• To highlight the latest applications of imaging techniques in CA evaluation.
• To provide a practical flowchart for the diagnostic process.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review of multimodality imaging techniques for CA.
• Inclusion of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, scintigraphy, and computed tomography.
• Analysis of recent advancements and applications in CA imaging.

Main Results:

• Multimodality imaging is essential for confirming CA diagnosis.
• Imaging modalities differentiate CA subtypes, guiding treatment decisions.
• Specific imaging features aid in identifying amyloid deposition patterns.

Conclusions:

• A systematic multimodality imaging approach is vital for accurate CA diagnosis.
• Understanding imaging characteristics is key to classifying CA subtypes.
• The reviewed evidence supports a structured diagnostic pathway for CA management.