Diffuse diseases of the myocardium: MRI-pathologic review of cardiomyopathies with dilatation

OBJECTIVE. In this radiologic-pathologic review of the cardiomyopathies, we present the pertinent imaging findings of diffuse myocardial diseases that are associated with ventricular dilatation, including ischemic cardiomyopathy, nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, cardiac sarcoidosis, and iron overload cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION. Correlation of the key radiologic findings with gross and microscopic pathologic features is presented, to provide the reader with a focused and in-depth review of the pathophysiology underlying each entity and the basis for the corresponding imaging characteristics.