Cardiac imaging in patients with acute or chronic heart failure.

In recent years, imaging techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) and they are indispensable for clinical decision-making in patients with acute and chronic HF. Echocardiography remains a first-line test in HF and continues to provide valuable information on left ventricular and valvular function. However, there is increasing evidence to integrate imaging modalities such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography and computed tomography, in the clinical care. In the future, a need on appropriate utilization of the different tools will raise and it will represent a challenge for cardiovascular specialists. Cardiologists and physicians will require an adequate training, knowing strengths and limitations of all these imaging techniques.