Cardiovascular CT, MRI, and PET/CT in 2021: Review of Key Articles

This review focuses on three key noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities-cardiac CT angiography (CTA), MRI, and PET/CTand summarizes key publications in 2021 relevant to radiologists in clinical practice. Although this review focuses primarily on articles published in Radiology, important studies from other major journals are included to highlight must-know articles in the field of cardiovascular imaging. Cardiac CTA has been established as the first-line test for patients with stable chest pain and no known coronary artery disease, and its value remains central to the assessment of surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Artificial intelligence continues to evolve in a number of applications in cardiovascular disease. In cardiac MRI studies, 2021 has seen an emphasis on nonischemic cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, and COVID-19 disease cardiac manifestations and the authors highlight the key articles on these topics. A section featuring the increasing role of cardiac PET/CT in the assessment of cardiac sarcoidosis and prosthetic valves is also provided. (c) RSNA, 2022

Automated summary

This review summarizes key publications in 2021 related to three key noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities: cardiac CT angiography (CTA), MRI, and PET/CT. The review focuses primarily on articles published in Radiology but also includes important studies from other major journals in the field of cardiovascular imaging. It highlights the value of cardiac CTA, the evolving role of artificial intelligence in cardiovascular disease, and the emphasis on nonischemic cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, and COVID-19 disease cardiac manifestations in cardiac MRI studies. The increasing role of cardiac PET/CT in the assessment of cardiac sarcoidosis and prosthetic valves is also discussed.