Cardiac magnetic resonance in acute myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can visualize ventricular size and function and moreover tissue composition. This allows for detection of myocardial edema and increased contrast uptake typical for inflammation. In a subset of myocarditis-patients typical irreversible fibrotic lesions can be detected. In clinical routine CMR can contribute to the differentiation of acute myocarditis and acute infarction or stress-induced cardiomyopathy. In various systemic diseases CMR can help to detect myocardial involvement. In dilated cardiomyopathy CMR enables precise quantification of ventricular size and function. The detection of myocardial fibrosis by CMR has prognostic implications.