Types of Cardiac MRI.

 Cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the heart) can be classified based on the purpose of the scan, technique used, and clinical indication.

🔹 Types of Cardiac MRI (Based on Purpose and Technique)

1. Cine MRI

   • Shows real-time heart motion ("movie" of the beating heart).

   • Used to assess cardiac anatomy, ventricular function (ejection fraction), and wall motion.

2. Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) MRI

• Uses contrast to detect myocardial scar, fibrosis, or infarction.

• Common in ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathies.

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  types of cardiac mri

  
  
  

3. Perfusion MRI

   • Assesses blood flow to the myocardium at rest and stress.

   • Used to detect ischemia (similar to a nuclear stress test).

4. T1 and T2 Mapping

   • Quantitative imaging of myocardial tissue properties.

   • Helps in detecting edema, fibrosis, or infiltration (e.g., amyloidosis, myocarditis).

5. MR Angiography (MRA)

   • Visualizes blood vessels including coronary arteries and great vessels.

   • Can be done with or without contrast.

6. Phase Contrast MRI

   • Measures blood flow velocity and direction.

   • Used for assessing valvular diseases and congenital heart defects.

7. 4D Flow MRI

   • Advanced form of phase-contrast MRI.

   • Shows flow patterns in 3D + time.

8. Stress Cardiac MRI

   • Done with pharmacologic stress agents (e.g., adenosine or dobutamine).

   • Assesses myocardial perfusion and function under stress.

types of cardiac mri

🔹 Types Based on Clinical Indication

• Ischemic Heart Disease → Perfusion, LGE, Cine MRI

• Cardiomyopathies (e.g., HCM, DCM) → Cine, LGE, T1/T2 mapping

• Myocarditis or Infiltrative Disease → T1/T2 mapping, LGE

• Congenital Heart Disease → MR Angiography, Cine, Flow MRI

• Valvular Heart Disease → Cine, Phase Contrast MRI

• Pericardial Disease → Cine, LGE, T2 mapping