Pivotal role of cardiac MRI in mitral valve regurgitation

Abstract

Cardiac imaging is the cornerstone of defining the etiology, quantification and management of mitral regurgitation (MR). This continues to be even more so the case with emerging trans-catheter techniques to manage MR. Transthoracic echocardiography remains the first line imaging modality to assess MR but has limitations. Cardiac MRI(CMR) provides the advantages of quantitative non-visual estimation, 3D volumetric data, late gadolinium, T1 and extracellular volume measurements to comprehensively assess mitral valvular pathology, cardiac remodeling and the prognostic impact of therapies. This review describes the superiority, technical aspects and growing evidence behind CMR, and lays the roadmap for the future of CMR in MR.