Hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Differentiation by imaging

The differentiation between hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathies is often challenging in the routine clinical setting. Advances in the field of multimodal imaging have improved the diagnostics of these diseases and understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Each imaging method, such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CT) and coronary angiography including cardiac catheterization for pressure measurements, is of significant value in clinical diagnostics and also regarding therapeutic approaches and prognostic implications. This review gives an overview of developments of the past few years, describes recent insights and puts these findings into a scientific context. Particularly CMR has added valuable information to current knowledge by its unique potential of contrast-enhanced tissue characterization. Another promising CMR tool, parametric mapping has appeared on the horizon and may further deepen our understanding of cardiac pathophysiology as well as offer new therapeutic options to patients.