Review of Noninvasive Imaging for Hypertrophic Cardiac Syndromes and Restrictive Physiology

Noninvasive imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiac syndromes and restrictive pathophysiology. Newer imaging modalities are becoming accepted as advances in instrument technology and computer processing make possible their transformation from time-consuming research tools into powerful clinical techniques that can provide qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the morphologic, functional, and hemodynamic parameters distorted by the hypertrophic disease process. Further promise in the effort to provide a complete, noninvasive picture of the cardiomyopathies lies in the combination of modalities that allows for optimal spatial and temporal resolution, with concomitant metabolic information.