MRIOnline Mastery Series: Cardiac MRI of Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy 2021

Advanced Cardiac MRI Interpretation for Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathies and Heart Failure

Overview

MRIOnline Mastery Series: Cardiac MRI of Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy 2021 is an advanced cardiovascular imaging course focused on the use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) in the diagnosis and evaluation of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.

Presented by Stefan Zimmerman, this CME program provides a practical, case-based approach to identifying and differentiating the major causes of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy using contemporary cardiac MRI techniques.

Because non-ischemic cardiomyopathies represent a major cause of heart failure, sudden cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac transplantation, accurate diagnosis is essential. The course emphasizes how CMR can characterize myocardial tissue, identify specific disease patterns, assess ventricular function, and narrow differential diagnoses that may not be distinguishable by echocardiography alone.

Participants learn a systematic approach to image acquisition, interpretation, tissue characterization, and diagnostic pattern recognition for a wide range of cardiomyopathic disorders.

Course Specifications

Format

• CME Video Lectures

Course Year

2021

Educational Level

Intermediate to Advanced

Specialty

Cardiac MRI (CMR) & Cardiomyopathy Imaging

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Understand the role of cardiac MRI in heart failure evaluation.
• Differentiate ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.
• Apply cardiac MRI tissue characterization techniques.
• Recognize imaging patterns of major cardiomyopathies.
• Interpret late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) findings.
• Evaluate ventricular structure and function using CMR.
• Develop a systematic diagnostic approach to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
• Improve clinical decision-making through advanced imaging interpretation.

Core Topics Covered

Introduction to Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Topics Include

• Definition and Classification
• Causes of Heart Failure
• Clinical Presentation
• Diagnostic Challenges
• Role of Advanced Imaging

Participants review the major categories of non-ischemic myocardial disease.

Cardiac MRI Fundamentals

Topics Include

• CMR Principles
• Image Acquisition
• Cine Imaging
• Tissue Characterization
• Contrast Enhancement Techniques

Review of the foundational concepts necessary for cardiac MRI interpretation.

Ventricular Function Assessment

Topics Include

• Left Ventricular Volumes
• Ejection Fraction
• Right Ventricular Function
• Regional Wall Motion Analysis
• Ventricular Remodeling

Participants learn how MRI provides highly accurate functional assessment.

Tissue Characterization

A major strength of cardiac MRI.

Topics Include

• Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE)
• T1 Mapping
• T2 Mapping
• Extracellular Volume Assessment
• Myocardial Fibrosis Detection

Focus on distinguishing various cardiomyopathies through myocardial tissue analysis.

Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE)

Topics Include

• Enhancement Patterns
• Fibrosis Identification
• Scar Assessment
• Prognostic Significance
• Differential Diagnosis

Participants learn how enhancement patterns guide diagnosis.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Topics Include

• Ventricular Dilatation
• Systolic Dysfunction
• Mid-Wall Fibrosis
• Prognostic Imaging Findings

Review of classic MRI features of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Topics Include

• Myocardial Hypertrophy
• Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy
• Apical HCM
• Fibrosis Assessment
• Risk Stratification

Participants learn how CMR contributes to diagnosis and sudden death risk assessment.

Myocarditis

Topics Include

• Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy
• Lake Louise Criteria
• Myocardial Edema
• Fibrosis Patterns
• Acute vs Chronic Disease

Comprehensive review of MRI findings in myocarditis.

Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Topics Include

• Granulomatous Disease
• Ventricular Arrhythmias
• LGE Distribution
• Disease Activity Assessment

Review of one of the most important infiltrative cardiomyopathies.

Cardiac Amyloidosis

Topics Include

• Infiltrative Cardiomyopathy
• Diffuse Myocardial Enhancement
• Extracellular Volume Expansion
• Diagnostic Imaging Features

Participants learn characteristic MRI findings associated with amyloid heart disease.

Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

Topics Include

• Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
• Fibrofatty Infiltration
• Ventricular Arrhythmias
• Structural Abnormalities

Review of imaging features associated with arrhythmogenic disease.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Topics Include

• Restrictive Physiology
• Myocardial Infiltration
• Differential Diagnosis
• Imaging Characteristics

Participants learn how MRI assists in evaluating restrictive heart disease.

Infiltrative and Storage Disorders

Topics Include

• Fabry Disease
• Hemochromatosis
• Glycogen Storage Disorders
• Rare Cardiomyopathies

Advanced review of uncommon myocardial diseases.

Heart Failure Evaluation

Topics Include

• Etiology Assessment
• Prognostic Imaging Markers
• Therapy Guidance
• Risk Stratification

Focus on integrating MRI findings into patient management.

Differential Diagnosis Approach

Topics Include

• Pattern Recognition
• Imaging Algorithms
• Diagnostic Workflow
• Clinical Correlation

Participants learn a systematic approach to narrowing complex diagnoses.

Educational Features

Case-Based Learning

Real-world examples reinforce interpretation skills.

Practical Clinical Focus

Emphasis on common diagnoses encountered in daily practice.

Advanced Tissue Characterization

Detailed review of modern MRI techniques.

Structured Diagnostic Approach

Provides a framework for evaluating patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy.

Target Audience

Physicians

• Cardiologists
• Cardiac Imaging Specialists
• Radiologists
• Heart Failure Specialists
• Electrophysiologists

Trainees

• Cardiology Fellows
• Cardiac Imaging Fellows
• Radiology Residents
• Advanced Cardiac Imaging Trainees

Advanced Practice Providers

• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants working in cardiovascular imaging

Why Choose This Course?

• Focused exclusively on non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
• Taught by an experienced cardiac MRI expert.
• Covers major cardiomyopathy diagnoses encountered in practice.
• Strong emphasis on tissue characterization and LGE interpretation.
• Practical approach to differential diagnosis.
• Highly relevant for clinicians involved in heart failure and advanced cardiac imaging.

Program :

• Introduction to Cardiac MRI of Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
• Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Summary
• Cardiac Search Pattern in the Setting of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• HCM: Basal Septal with SAM
• HCM: Septal No SAM
• HCM: Apical
• HCM: Midcavity with Apical Aneurysm
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
• HCM: Severe
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Idiopathic
• Sarcoid: Acute
• Sarcoid: Chronic
• Myocarditis: Acute
• Myocarditis: Chronic
• Myocarditis: Toxic (Chemotherapy)
• ARVC
• Left sided ARVC/Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy
• Athlete’s Heart
• Loeffler Endocarditis with Thrombus
• Amyloidosis: AL (MM)
• Amyloidosis: TTR
• Left Ventricular Non-Compaction:Typical
• LVNC: Focal
• Hemochromatosis
• Takotsubo
• Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Conclusions