High Impact Clinical Applications of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Women: A Review

The diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in women poses an ongoing challenge due to lack of knowledge about sex differences in the manifestations of cardiovascular disease, since women have been underrepresented in cardiovascular research studies that guide current practice. The purpose of this article is to review a spectrum of cardiovascular disorders which occur exclusively or more frequently in women and to highlight the role that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) plays in diagnosing and prognosticating these disorders. Specifically, this review focuses on cardio-oncologic, ischemic, inflammatory, autoimmune, peri-partum, and genetic manifestations of cardiomyopathy in women. We strive to draw attention to the added diagnostic value provided by cardiac MR, compared against alternative imaging modalities, and propose opportunities for further research on sex differences in imaging and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.