T1 mapping in myocarditis – headway to a new era for cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Myocarditis is a major cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality, particularly in young patients. A spectrum of challenges besets this condition, from establishing the diagnosis to effective treatment. Endomyocardial biopsy remains the diagnostic gold standard, despite its invasiveness, low diagnostic yield and a paucity of consequential management pathways. Cardiac magnetic resonance by Lake Louise criteria has contested to become the non-invasive diagnostic alternative by providing confirmation of disease. The advent of T1 mapping now allows a high diagnostic accuracy in confirmation and exclusion of disease, discrimination of stages and activity of disease. Alongside the research into the mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets, cardiac magnetic resonance confidently claims a prime role within a modern diagnostic pathway in clinically stable patients with suspected myocarditis.