Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Heart Failure.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to summarize the application of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of patients with heart failure (HF). RECENT FINDINGS: CMR is an important non-invasive imaging modality in the assessment of ventricular volumes and function and in the analysis of myocardial tissue characteristics. The information derived from CMR provides a comprehensive evaluation of HF. Its unique ability of tissue characterization not only helps to reveal the underlying etiologies of HF but also offers incremental prognostic information. CMR is a useful non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis in patients suffering from heart failure.