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Introduction and Objectives: Severity of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been associated with the amount of myocardial fibrosis in autopsy studies. Cardio-vascular magnetic resonance allows, by means of the delayed contrast-enhancement technique, an in vivo detection of focal myocardial fibrosis. Our aim was to study myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by means of contrast-enhance cardio-vascular magnetic resonance., Methods: 43 patients (30 males; mean age 47 [18] years) were studied by cardio-vascular magnetic resonance. In all patients left ventricular function and mass was analyzed. Total mass of myocardial fibrosis, as identified by delayed contrast-enhancement, was also calculated., Results: In 63% of patients some degree of myocardial delayed contrast-enhancement was observed, total mass of myocardial fibrosis ranging between 1 and 59 g (mean: 17 g). There was a positive correlation between the amount of myocardial fibrosis and the degree of hypertrophy. Maximal wall thickness was higher in patients with myocardial fibrosis (23 [7] vs 18 [4] mm, respectively, P=.04). Familial cases were also more prevalent among this group (48% vs 13%, respectively), as well as conventional clinical risk factors., Conclusions: Myocardial fibrosis as detected by contrast-enhanced cardio-vascular magnetic resonance is highly prevalent in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients, particularly in familial cases with severe hypertrophy and associated risk factors.

Accurate knowledge of the anatomy of the pulmonary veins is important in clinical electrophysiology. In order to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography for this purpose, we studied 17 unselected patients. All the pulmonary veins were visualized in each individual. The diameters of the ostia ranged between 9 mm and 22 mm. The cross-section of the ostium was elliptical in 35% of cases. In 14 patients (82%), the 4 veins each had independent drainage. In 2 patients (12%), there was an additional intermediate right vein and, in 1 patient (6%), both left veins had a common ostium. In 74% of patients, the right pulmonary veins had a short common trunk with early branching. This pattern was seen in only 10% of left veins. Magnetic resonance angiography using a contrast medium is an excellent technique for studying the anatomy of the pulmonary veins and for identifying variants. The resulting information is potentially useful for electrophysiologists.

Introduction and Objectives: To analyze retrospectively the usefulness of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of patients with clinically suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia., Material and Method: We reviewed retrospectively findings from 46 consecutive patients (mean age, 42+/-19 years; 25 male) who were referred for investigation to rule out right ventricular dysplasia. Abnormal findings were classified according to the general diagnostic criteria established by the European Society of Cardiology., Results: Evaluable images were available for all patients. Abnormal right ventricular findings were reported in 24 patients (52%), but only 5 were given a definite diagnosis of right ventricular dysplasia. Fatty infiltration was observed in 9 patients; it was an isolated finding in 6 but was associated with right ventricular contractile dysfunction in 3. These latter patients belonged to the group with confirmed dysplasia. None of the 22 patients (48%) with normal findings on magnetic resonance imaging was given a diagnosis of dysplasia., Conclusions: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging enabled the right ventricle to be assessed in all patients. In those with clinically suspected dysplasia, normal findings ruled out the diagnosis. However, only 21% of those with abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging were finally given a confirmed diagnosis of dysplasia. Fatty infiltration of the right ventricular wall does not imply dysplasia unless it is associated with other abnormalities in right ventricular morphology or contractility. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is useful in the work-up of patients with clinically suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

Introduction and Objectives: The assessment of regional myocardial perfusion by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging makes it possible to detect significant coronary artery lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of this technique in non-selected patients with ischemic heart disease., Patients and Method: The study group included 32 patients (26 men; mean age: 65 years old). Gadolinium (0.05 mmol/kg) for first-pass imaging was administered through a peripheral vein, both at rest and after adenosine infusion (140 mg/kg for 6 min). The presence of a regional perfusion defect was assessed visually, and these images were compared against coronary angiographic images., Results: Angiography showed 49 significant (> 70%) obstructive lesions in a coronary artery. Magnetic resonance showed a perfusion defect at rest (fixed) in 35 myocardial segments, and only after adenosine infusion (reversible) in 16 additional regions, for a total of 51 segments with perfusion defect. Sensitivity for the detection of an angiographically significant coronary lesion was 78%, with a specificity of 75%. These figures decreased to 54% and 65%, respectively, when only fixed defects were considered. There were no visible defects in 26% of the myocardial territories with proven previous necrosis, although effective reperfusion and patent culprit arteries were frequently seen in these cases., Conclusions: The detection of a regional myocardial perfusion defect by visual analysis with first-pass gadolinium and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging shows good diagnostic accuracy for the presence of significant coronary artery obstruction, provided that both rest and pharmacological stress studies are performed.