Clinical Programs
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The USC Division of Cardiovascular Medicine is particularly proud of its pioneering program in high-field cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. While most cardiac centers use lower-field imaging devices, our division has invested in devices capable of high-field diagnostic studies. With this novel technology, the heart can be captured in three dimensions with amazing clarity. Our two new 3T MRI systems produce optimal-resolution images of the heart muscle, the structure of the heart (for congenital and valvular heart disease detection), and the coronary arteries. They also allow us to observe scarred heart muscle, blood flow through the muscle of the heart, and heart muscle metabolism to detect and study inadequate blood flow to the heart. CMR additionally allows for clinical visualization of the peripheral and renal arterial systems as well as the carotid arteries. With CMR, conditions such as aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections can be detected at their earliest phases, and the presence and extent of pulmonary hypertension can be reliably determined.

USC cardiovascular medicine faculty are involved in several research projects that employ CMR imaging. Using CMR's ability to accurately evaluate left ventricular size, shape, and function, USC acts as a core laboratory for the international NIH (NHLBI)-supported Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial, which examines surgical treatment for heart failure after heart attack. The STICH trial compares medical, bypass surgical, and surgical ventricular restoration. In a second NIH (NHLBI)-supported, CMR-based program, our researchers study the heart muscle in patients with type I diabetes. Using phosphorus CMR to assess ATP and phosphocreatine levels in the heart muscle at rest and during stress, the study aims to determine the biochemical basis for the abnormal heart function commonly found in diabetics. Finally, a third NIH (NHLBI)-supported program-the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE)-uses phosphorus CMR at rest and with stress to determine the basis for chest pain in women who show no evidence of coronary artery obstruction. Many women suffer from this syndrome, sometimes called "Cardiac Syndrome X."

CMR imaging is non-invasive and allows for the evaluation of heart and vascular function using a single modality and without the risks associated with ionizing radiation or X-ray dye. High-field CMR imaging can be described as a "one-stop shop" for the comprehensive analysis, including severity and prognosis, of virtually any form of cardiovascular disease.