From imaging to prediction: Emerging non-invasive methods in pediatric cardiology

The demand for early diagnosis and improved management of cardiovascular diseases is a continuous source of motivation for the development of non-invasive quantitative imaging and predictive tools. The past few years have witnessed major advances in imaging technologies and integrated computational methods that focus on blood flow and its biomechanical interactions with the walls of the cardiovascular system. This paper summarizes the key biomechanical concepts behind these methods, reviews the current and forthcoming technologies, and evaluates the readiness of these emerging non-invasive methods for the clinical setting.