Cardiac MRI: Part 2, pericardial diseases

OBJECTIVE. MRI plays an important role in the morphologic and functional evaluation of pericardial diseases. MRI has the advantages of high spatiotemporal resolution, soft-tissue contrast, wide FOV, and multiplanar imaging capabilities, making it a valuable tool in the evaluation of pericardial disorders. In this article, the role of MRI in the evaluation of pericardial disorders, including pericardial constriction, is described and illustrated. CONCLUSION. MRI is a vital diagnostic tool in the evaluation of pericardial diseases, particularly inflammation and constriction, because it can provide both morphologic and functional information essential for determining the optimal therapeutic strategy. It is used for the characterization and delineation of the extent of spread of pericardial masses. Various imaging sequences are available, so the MRI protocol should be optimized and tailored to the specific clinical condition that is being evaluated.