Late gadolinium cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the assessment of myocardial viability

Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging is a viability imaging technique that has been demonstrated in both animal and patient studies to accurately identify and characterize the presence and transmural extent of myocardial scarring. The precise information regarding the presence, location and extent of myocardial scarring has been shown to be useful in predicting the likelihood of functional recovery of dysfunctional myocardium after revascularization. Perhaps, more importantly, the ability to visualize the extent of viable and nonviable myocardium across the ventricular wall allows one to approach viability as a continuum rather than in a binary manner, providing a better reflection of the underlying physiology.