MRI evaluation of cardiomyopathies. A guide-line for the physician

Within last decade MRI emerged as an important diagnostical tool in cardiac disease. Due to the excellent soft-tissue contrast MRI adds essential information to other diagnostic procedures, and allows correct diagnosis in different cardiomyopathies. However, knowledge of differential diagnosis and individually adapted MRI-protocols are a precondition to distinguish cardiomyopathies from other cardiac diseases. This paper is understood as a review of common findings in cardiomyopathies and the most important differential diagnosis and shall serve as a simple guideline for the physician. (orig.)