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The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) and Computed Tomography (CCT) in Facilitating Heart Failure Management

  • Heart Failure (J Fang, Section Editor)
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Opinion statement

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) offer advantages for detecting left or right ventricular dysfunction in patients with or suspected of heart failure. CMR does not expose patients to ionizing radiation, and thus is well-suited for functional assessments and serial studies. CCT provides high spatial resolution, making it useful for the identification of coronary arteriosclerosis associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy. In this review, the clinical applications of CMR and CCT are individually discussed, with comparisons made between them to examine the strengths of each modality. The major techniques for each modality are outlined, as well as their uses for the evaluation of cardiomyopathy in heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, and valvular heart disease. Finally, we review the utility of CMR and CCT in determining which patients will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.

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Acknowledgments

Research supported in part by National Institute of Health grants R33 CA121296-02, R01 HL076438-02, R01 CA167821-01, P30 AG21332, and P30 CA012197.

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Conflict of Interest

W. George Hundley reported receiving grants from NIH and Bracco (grants R33 CA121296-02, R01 HL076438-02, R01 CA167821-01, P30 AG21332 and P30 CA012197).

Richard Stacey declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Cardiology Section, Watlington Hall, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1045, USA

    R. Brandon Stacey MD, MS & W. Gregory Hundley MD

  2. Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    W. Gregory Hundley MD

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  1. R. Brandon Stacey MD, MS
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Correspondence to W. Gregory Hundley MD.

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Stacey, R.B., Hundley, W.G. The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) and Computed Tomography (CCT) in Facilitating Heart Failure Management. Curr Treat Options Cardio Med 15, 373–386 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-013-0253-6

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