Background: The right ventricle (RV) has been defined as the "forgotten chamber", as its role in cardiac physiopathology has long been underestimated. Nevertheless, the RV is involved in a wide range of pathological conditions and its altered function may significantly affect the patient's clinical status. Methods: A selection of the most common cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) features in a spectrum of pathological conditions is illustrated. Although its complex morphology, thin myocardium and trabeculated apex, RV can be accurately imaged by CMR, revealing its involvement in ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart disease. CMR has emerged as the pre-eminent modality in monitoring ventricular performance in congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathies. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a difficult diagnosis and the recently revised task force criteria confirmed a crucial role of CMR to increase diagnostic accuracy, by combining detection of RV dilation, regional wall motion and structural abnormalities. Moreover, a multiparametric approach of CMR is often necessary for delineation and characterisation of cardiac masses. Conclusion: CMR, combining assessment of morphology, structure and function, has definitively emerged as the reference technique to evaluate a large variety of RV diseases. Teaching Points: • CMR offers unique advantages for imaging of many RV congenital, ischaemic and non-ischaemic diseases.• Because of high reproducibility, CMR has a crucial role in decision-making for chronic RV pathology.• The use of CMR increases detection of RV disease as infarction or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. © 2013 The Author(s).
Right ventricular cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Normal anatomy and spectrum of pathological findings / Galea, Nicola; Carbone, Iacopo; David, Cannata; Cannavale, Giuseppe; Bettina, Conti; Roberto, Galea; Frustaci, Andrea; Catalano, Carlo; Francone, Marco. - In: INSIGHTS INTO IMAGING. - ISSN 1869-4101. - 4:2(2013), pp. 213-223.
Right ventricular cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Normal anatomy and spectrum of pathological findings
GALEA, NICOLA;CARBONE, IACOPO;Giuseppe Cannavale;FRUSTACI, ANDREA;CATALANO, Carlo;FRANCONE, MARCO
2013
Abstract
Background: The right ventricle (RV) has been defined as the "forgotten chamber", as its role in cardiac physiopathology has long been underestimated. Nevertheless, the RV is involved in a wide range of pathological conditions and its altered function may significantly affect the patient's clinical status. Methods: A selection of the most common cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) features in a spectrum of pathological conditions is illustrated. Although its complex morphology, thin myocardium and trabeculated apex, RV can be accurately imaged by CMR, revealing its involvement in ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart disease. CMR has emerged as the pre-eminent modality in monitoring ventricular performance in congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathies. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a difficult diagnosis and the recently revised task force criteria confirmed a crucial role of CMR to increase diagnostic accuracy, by combining detection of RV dilation, regional wall motion and structural abnormalities. Moreover, a multiparametric approach of CMR is often necessary for delineation and characterisation of cardiac masses. Conclusion: CMR, combining assessment of morphology, structure and function, has definitively emerged as the reference technique to evaluate a large variety of RV diseases. Teaching Points: • CMR offers unique advantages for imaging of many RV congenital, ischaemic and non-ischaemic diseases.• Because of high reproducibility, CMR has a crucial role in decision-making for chronic RV pathology.• The use of CMR increases detection of RV disease as infarction or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. © 2013 The Author(s).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.