CMR in Heart Failure

Table 1

Sequences commonly employed during a CMR examination.

Sequence	When commonly used	Information obtained
Localisers	All studies	Allows cardiac piloting of all future images. Also allows extra cardiac structures to be assessed
Transverse Thoracic Stack	All studies	Assessment of extra cardiac thoracic structures
Cardiac long axis and LV short axis cines	All studies	Assessment of LV and RV volumes, systolic function and regional wall motion abnormality
Flow	Valve Disease/Shunts	Quantification of Qp : Qs shunt ratio. Quantification of valve regurgitant fraction and forward flow velocity.
T1 weighted turbo spin echo	ARVC assessment	Demonstration of myocardial fat
STIR	Acute Myocardial Infarction and Myocarditis	Demonstration of myocardial oedema
T2*	Iron overload syndromes (e.g., Beta Thalassaemia major)	Demonstration and quantification of myocardial and liver iron
Gadolinium First Pass Perfusion; (with and without vasodilator stress)	Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cardiac mass assessment	Demonstration of perfusion defects in areas of ischaemic myocardium. Assessment of the vascularity of a cardiac mass
Gadolinium Enhanced Aortogram	Aortic Disease	Demonstration of dissection/dilatation of the aorta.
Early Gadolinium Inversion Recovery	Assessment of intracardiac mass	Demonstration of LV or left atrial appendage thrombus
Late Gadolinium Inversion Recovery	Nearly All Studies	Assessment of LV infarction and viability in ischaemic heart disease. Assessment of fibrosis in Cardiomyopathies.