Magnetic resonance imaging has been demonstrated to be useful in the a
ssessment of aortic and pericardial disease, cardiac masses, and conge
nital heart disease. Recently, developments in rapid imaging, assessme
nt of regional function, evaluation of intracardiac shunts and valvula
r regurgitation, and magnetic resonance coronary angiography have been
achieved, indicating an increasing role for magnetic resonance techni
ques in clinical cardiology.