Assessment of residual viability in patients with myocardial infarction using magnetic resonance techniques

Magnetic resonance techniques have only recently been employed to assess residual myocardial viability after myocardial infarction. Three approaches have been described to achieve this purpose: First, the use of signal intensity changes on spin-echo images with and without the application of contrast media to define irreversible injury to the myocardium in acute and subacute infarcts; second, measurement of metabolite concentrations within the infarct area using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and third, quantitation of myocardial thickness and systolic wall thickening in chronic infarcts. This paper reviews the pertinent literature and compares MR techniques with other imaging techniques used in the diagnosis of myocardial viability.