Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Takotsubo Syndrome

Abstract

Takotsubo syndrome is an acute, profound but reversible heart failure syndrome of unknown aetiology, usually but not always triggered by physical or emotional stress. Cardiac magnetic resonance has become an important tool for the non-invasive assessment of the syndrome, allowing for a comprehensive, safe and reproducible assessment of functional and anatomical myocardial properties, including perfusion, oedema and necrosis. This review focuses on the emerging role of cardiac magnetic resonance for the characterisation, differential diagnosis as well as risk stratification of patients with Takotsubo syndrome.

Keywords: Takotsubo syndrome; cardiac magnetic resonance; differential diagnosis; functional assessment; prognosis; tissue characterisation.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1:. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Exam of a 70-year-old Female Patient with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy