The Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pulmonary Hypertension

Purpose of Review During recent years, cardiovascular magnetic imaging has emerged as the gold standard for evaluating functional and hemodynamic impairment of the RV. Recent Findings In patients with pulmonary hypertension where right ventricular function dominates outcome and long-term prognosis, CMR is proving to be a particularly useful tool. It not only allows for evaluating the complex geometry of the RV but also vascular abnormalities, tissue characterization, RV-PA synchrony and PA flow in a single setting. The aim of this review article is to picture how MRI can help to assess kinetic, morphological and functional changes of the right ventricle that can occur in patients affected by pulmonary arterial hypertension and how these findings can provide important information about disease course, response to treatment and prognosis. Summary Existing CMR measurement tools and their importance and forthcoming developments that are likely to be important in the future will be discussed.