Myocardial Viability Assessment by Cardiac MRI in Cases of Pediatric Cardiomyopathy

Objective: Evaluation of the role of cardiac MRI in the assessment of myocardial viability in pediatric patients suspected or known to have cardiomyopathy.Patients and Methods: 30 patients of the pediatric age group were included in this study with the age range (30 days-18 years). Full clinical history and echocardiographic data were collected. Standard cardiac MRI views were taken with delayed post contrast enhanced study to detect fibrosis.Results: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is progressively considered one of the important imaging tools in the investigation of patients known or suspected to have cardiomyopathy. With the addition of contrast, the patterns of delayed enhancement help to differentiate many types of cardiomyopathy, detect ischemic cardiomyopathy and finally help in risk stratification.Conclusion: Although echocardiography remains the first-line imaging investigation for pediatric patients, yet the cardiac MRI has become an important noninvasive imaging modality for imaging of cardiomyopathy in the pediatric age group. The use of late gadolinium enhancement sequences aids in improving clinical risk stratification.