Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in the Evaluation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Diagnostic Contribution and Prognostic Significance
Figure 2
Postischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in a 69-year-old patient with severe dyspnea and symptoms of systemic heart failure. Cine-SSFP short-axis images displayed on end-diastolic (a) and end-systolic (b) phases show a markedly dilated left ventricular chamber (EDV: 287 mL) with severely compromised ejection fraction (11%). LGE image (c) depicts extensive ischemic scarring within the anterior and antero-septal and lateral walls of the left ventricle with typical subendocardial distribution of myocardial enhancement. Minimal right ventricular involvement is also present and observed as a linear hyperintense rim at the level of the right interventricular septum. Selective coronary angiography confirmed the presence of a severe 3-vessel disease which was only treated with medical therapy.
