The CMR examination in heart failure.

This article presents a rationale for incorporating cardiovascular MR in the evaluation of patients who have heart failure and is organized in four parts. Part I defines the context of cardiovascular MR within standard clinical evaluation and among the many other modalities available for cardiovascular assessment in patients who have heart failure. Part II describes the techniques most useful in treating heart failure. Part III provides recommended approaches for the standard heart failure cardiovascular MR examination. Part IV concludes with perspectives on the appropriate use and incorporation of cardiovascular MR in the evaluation and management of patients who have heart failure.