Progress of quantification T₂-mapping in cardiac imaging

With the development of imaging techniques, the methods in cardiac imaging have been diversified. Due to its fast, efficiency and accuracy, quantitative T₂-mapping has been gradually used in clinical practice. Various non-invasive cardiac imaging modalities can be used to evaluate myocardial viability, such as dobutamine echocardiography (ECHO), stress ECHO with contrast, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. PET is the gold standard for the assessment of myocardial viability. However, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has noninvasive, no radiation, multifunctional and multi-dimensional imaging characteristics who is becoming amore attractive tool. T₂-mapping has been applied in the evaluation of cartilage integrity, tumor characterization, prostate imaging, dynamic contrast studies of cerebral perfusion, measurement of iron burden, and cardiac imaging. In recent years, it has been gradually used in evaluating acute myocardial infarction. The progress of quantification T₂-mapping in cardiac imaging was reviewed. (authors)