Cardiovascular Imaging with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in clinical practice

Objective To evaluate and describe indications, mainly diagnoses and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings observed in clinical practice. Materials and Methods Retrospective and descriptive study of cardiac magnetic resonance performed at a private hospital and clinic in the city of Niterói, RJ, Brazil, in the period from May 2007 to April 2011. Results The sample included a total of 1000 studies performed in patients with a mean age of 53.7 ± 16.2 years and predominance for male gender (57.2%). The majority of indications were related to assessment of myocardial perfusion at rest and under pharmacological stress (507/1000; 51%), with positive results in 36.2% of them. Suspected myocarditis was the second most frequent indication (140/1000; 14%), with positive results in 63.4% of cases. These two indications were followed by study of arrhythmias (116/1000; 12%), myocardial viability (69/1000; 7%) and evaluation of cardiomyopathies (47/1000; 5%). In a subanalysis, it was possible to identify that most patients were assessed on an outpatient basis (58.42%). Conclusion Cardiac magnetic resonance has been routinely performed in clinical practice, either on an outpatient or emergency/inpatient basis, and myocardial ischemia represented the main indication, followed by investigation of myocarditis, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and myocardial viability.

Arteriographic demonstration of the release of coronary artery spasm by isosorbide dinitrate: a twenty-five-year retrospective

It has been 25 years since my colleagues and I were first approached to apply the then newly emerging technique of coronary arteriography to the study of the effects of the new vasodilator isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on coronary arteries in vivo. Through a combination of careful patient assessment and serendipity, we were able to visualize the prompt release of coronary artery spasm by ISDN. Ensuing years have seen dramatic advances both in angiographic techniques and in the knowledge of ISDN efficacy. This review will briefly summarize the early work with ISDN and detail how the improvements in cineangiography have fostered better understanding of the actions of ISDN.