A practical review of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the management of coronary artery disease.

Purpose of review: Stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has gained increasing adoption across North America and Europe for the evaluation of symptomatic suspected or established ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Recent findings: Over the past decade, stress perfusion CMR has demonstrated excellent diagnostic and prognostic performance, particularly in patients at intermediate or high risk of IHD or with established coronary artery disease (CAD). After the landmark ISCHEMIA trial, stress CMR may play an important role in selecting patients for invasive management strategies and determination of revascularization technique. Artificial intelligence has streamlined CMR scanning techniques and in-line automation of quantitative pixelated perfusion maps. Quantitative stress CMR can evaluate absolute myocardial blood flow and perfusion reserve that improves risk stratification and detection of coronary microvascular disease (CMD). CMD detection may assist clinicians with diagnosis of chest pain in patients without obstructive CAD and improve prognostication and detection of pathophysiological mechanisms in a variety of cardiomyopathies.

Summary: Quantitative stress perfusion CMR will play an important clinical role in evaluating patients at risk of IHD and cardiomyopathy with iterative cost and time efficiency owing to continued integration of artificial intelligence techniques. More widespread adoption will likely improve cost effective cardiac care and reduce adverse clinical outcomes.