Cor Vasa 2017, 59(2):e157-e162 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2016.09.002

Imaging methods in cardiomyopathies

Pavel Gregor^*, Hana Línková

III. interní-kardiologická klinika, Kardiocentrum 3. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy a Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady, Praha, Česká republika

The echocardiography, as a widely available and relatively inexpensive basic imaging method, fulfills an irreplaceable function of a screening method in cardiomyopathies. Among new imaging methods, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography may prove useful, particularly in spongious and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathies; speckle-tracking echocardiography in differentiation of athletic heart from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, various types of restrictive cardiomyopathy (including the initial stages of cardiac amyloidosis) and distinguishing between stress and spongious cardiomyopathy. More detailed information may be provided by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, especially in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and the prognostic assessment in all types of cardiomyopathies. A cardiac CT scan serves particularly for discrimination of ischemic heart disease and detection of various extracardiac structures. Nevertheless, an essential disadvantage of this method is the radiation exposure, preventing its use in long-term follow-up.

Keywords: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy; Cardiac CT; Cardiomyopathy; Cardiovascular magnetic resonance; Echocardiography; Late gadolinium enhancement; Tissue Doppler imaging methods

Received: April 27, 2016; Revised: September 5, 2016; Accepted: September 7, 2016; Published: April 1, 2017  Show citation