Value of classical criteria for diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis re-evaluated with magnetic resonance.

The noninvasive diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is often challenging. ECG abnormalities are common but lack both sensitivity and specificity. While some features on transthoracic echocardiography have confirmed the classical picture of CA, they have generally been validated against endomyocardial biopsy and thus are indicative of advanced disease. The ability of cardiac magnetic resonance to characterize the myocardium has opened a new door in the noninvasive diagnosis of CA, representing an opportunity to revisit the role of traditional ECG and transthoracic echocardiography diagnostic crtieria in earlier disease stages.