Update on the Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Acquired Nonischemic Cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies refer to a variety of myocardial disorders without underlying coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, or congenital heart disease. Several imaging modalities are available, but cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has now established itself as a crucial imaging technique in the evaluation of several cardiomyopathies. It not only provides comprehensive information on structure and function, but also can perform tissue characterization, which helps in establishing the etiology of cardiomyopathy. CMR is also useful in establishing the diagnosis, providing guidance for endomyocardial biopsy, accurate quantification of function, volumes, and fibrosis, prognostic determination, risk stratification, and monitoring response to therapy. In this article, we review the current role of CMR in the evaluation of several acquired nonischemic cardiomyopathies, particularly focusing on recent advances in knowledge. We also discuss in detail a select group of common acquired nonischemic cardiomyopathies.