Comprehensive Evaluation of Ischemic Heart Disease Using MRI

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the US, accounting for about one-third of all deaths in subjects over age 35. With the development of newer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques, such as faster pulse sequences and parallel imaging, cardiac MRI has become a routine tool for the evaluation and detection of myocardial ischemic disease. First pass myocardial perfusion (FPMP) using MRI is increasingly being used to assess ischemic heart disease. MRI offers the advantages of spatial resolution sufficient to differentiate between subendocardial and subepicardial perfusion; shorter examination time and also lack of ionizing radiation. Left ventricle cine gradient echo imaging can be used to assess regional ventricular function. Left ventricular myocardial viability can also be easily assessed at the same time in order to determine the amount of viable left ventricular myocardium and the percentage of irreversibly scarred myocardium by delayed enhanced images. Viability imaging is usually added to the perfusion protocol to increase specificity by allowing detection of fixed perfusion defects, which represent scar. The ultimate cardiac MRI protocol would be to combine both of these imaging strategies with a reliable and accurate coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography(MRA) technique, such that obstructive coronary artery disease could be evaluated comprehensively at the same time. If all of these techniques can be combined together in a single study, it may be feasible to finally achieve a "one stop shop" for cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.