Magnetic resonance imaging of valvular heart disease

The optimum management of patients with valvular heart diseases requires ac curate and reproducible assessment of the valvular lesion and its hemodynam ic consequences. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as volum e measurements, signal-void phenomena, and velocity mapping, can be used in an integrated approach to gain qualitative and quantitative information on valvular heart disease as well as ventricular dimensions and functions. Th us, MRI may be advantageous to the established diagnostic tools in assessin g the severity of valvular heart disease as well as monitoring the lesion a nd predicting the optimal timing for valvular surgery. This paper reviews t he validation of these MRI techniques in assessing valvular heart disease a nd discusses some typical pitfalls of the techniques, including suggestions for solutions, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.