The Use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnostic Workup and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and imposes a huge clinical and economic burden. AF is correlated with an increased morbidity and mortality, mainly due to stroke and heart failure. Cardiovascular imaging modalities, including echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), play a central role in the workup and treatment of AF. One of the major advantages of CMR is the high contrast to noise ratio combined with good spatial and temporal resolution, without any radiation burden. This allows a detailed assessment of the structure and function of the left atrium (LA). Of particular interest is the ability to visualize the extent of LA wall injury. We provide a focused review of the value of CMR in identifying the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of AF, its role in stroke prevention and in the guidance of radiofrequency catheter ablation. CMR is a promising technique that could add valuable information for therapeutic decision making in specific subpopulations with AF.

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Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Fusion Reveals Distinct Patterns of Abnormal Brain Structure and Function in Catatonia

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbz042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 202-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Dusan Hirjak ◽

Mahmoud Rashidi ◽

Katharina M Kubera ◽

Georg Northoff ◽

Stefan Fritze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Data Fusion ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Brain Structure And Function ◽

And Function ◽

Abnormal Brain

Abstract Catatonia is a nosologically unspecific syndrome, which subsumes a plethora of mostly complex affective, motor, and behavioral phenomena. Although catatonia frequently occurs in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), specific patterns of abnormal brain structure and function underlying catatonia are unclear at present. Here, we used a multivariate data fusion technique for multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to investigate patterns of aberrant intrinsic neural activity (INA) and gray matter volume (GMV) in SSD patients with and without catatonia. Resting-state functional MRI and structural MRI data were collected from 87 right-handed SSD patients. Catatonic symptoms were examined on the Northoff Catatonia Rating Scale (NCRS). A multivariate analysis approach was used to examine co-altered patterns of INA and GMV. Following a categorical approach, we found predominantly frontothalamic and corticostriatal abnormalities in SSD patients with catatonia (NCRS total score ≥ 3; n = 24) when compared to SSD patients without catatonia (NCRS total score = 0; n = 22) matched for age, gender, education, and medication. Corticostriatal network was associated with NCRS affective scores. Following a dimensional approach, 33 SSD patients with catatonia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision were identified. NCRS behavioral scores were associated with a joint structural and functional system that predominantly included cerebellar and prefrontal/cortical motor regions. NCRS affective scores were associated with frontoparietal INA. This study provides novel neuromechanistic insights into catatonia in SSD suggesting co-altered structure/function-interactions in neural systems subserving coordinated visuospatial functions and motor behavior.

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New Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Method for Defining the Extent of Left Atrial Wall Injury After the Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Journal of the American College of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/j.jacc.2008.05.062 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 52 (15) ◽

pp. 1263-1271 ◽

Cited By ~ 238

Author(s):

Christopher J. McGann ◽

Eugene G. Kholmovski ◽

Robert S. Oakes ◽

Joshua J.E. Blauer ◽

Marcos Daccarett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Atrial Wall ◽

Left Atrial Wall ◽

Wall Injury

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Emerging Trends in Neuroimaging of Epilepsy

Epilepsy Currents ◽

10.1177/1535759721991161 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 79-82

Author(s):

Neda Bernasconi ◽

Irene Wang

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Machine Learning ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Emerging Trends ◽

Brain Structure And Function ◽

And Function ◽

Neuroimaging Techniques

Neuroimaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, yield increasingly sophisticated markers of brain structure and function. Combined with ongoing developments in machine learning, these methods refine our abilities to detect subtle epileptogenic lesions and develop reliable prognostics.

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