Magnetic resonance imaging: historical perspective.

Since Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield independently published in 1974 the technique that later became known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this technology has become an invaluable clinical and research tool. Their Nobel Prize-winning discovery, however, was preceded by a series of seminal contributions by scientists from the fields of mathematics, physics, and chemistry dating back to the 19th century and subsequently followed by rapid developments in clinical MRI. This article provides a brief overview of the key developments that have led to today's MRI and its application to the cardiovascular system.