The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) and Computed Tomography (CCT) in Facilitating Heart Failure Management.

OPINION STATEMENT: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) offer advantages for detecting left or right ventricular dysfunction in patients with or suspected of heart failure. CMR does not expose patients to ionizing radiation, and thus is well-suited for functional assessments and serial studies. CCT provides high spatial resolution, making it useful for the identification of coronary arteriosclerosis associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy. In this review, the clinical applications of CMR and CCT are individually discussed, with comparisons made between them to examine the strengths of each modality. The major techniques for each modality are outlined, as well as their uses for the evaluation of cardiomyopathy in heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, and valvular heart disease. Finally, we review the utility of CMR and CCT in determining which patients will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.