Clinical use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Overview Whenever cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is applicable, it usually provides the standard for diagnostic evaluation. With a state-of-the-art CMR system, it is possible to acquire technically superior images with great diagnostic value. CMR is entering the early majority user phase of technology adoption.1 A period of rapid growth is anticipated as users understand and acquire the technology. Thus, a modality conceived in the last quarter of the 20th century should flourish in the 21st century. The most recent systems include shorter bore 1.5 Tesla magnets. However, CMR is on the brink of a change in magnetic field strength to 3.0T. This will decrease the imaging time, improve image quality, and detect ischemia directly using spectroscopy. It has frequently been claimed that CMR can provide virtually all of the information needed to assess heart disease. However, such claims become a liability without full realization in a reasonable period of time. CMR is now at the stage where it should be routinely applied clinically (see Table 1 for definitions of some common CMR terminology). Magnetic Resonance Hardware Magnetic resonance systems consist of 3 major components (Figure 1):