Myocardial ischemia and viability by cardiac magnetic resonance: the international experience and the Greek reality.

C ardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), a relatively new imaging technique, has already proven its efficacy in the assessment of myocardial function, inflammation, tissue characterisation, and viability. Currently, the applications of CMR in coronary artery disease are being extended, making it a powerful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion and viability. The aim of this review is to offer a condensed summary of CMR applications in the evaluation of perfusion and viability in coronary artery disease (CAD) and to present the Greek reality in the field.