The emerging role of cardiovascular MRI for suspected cardioembolic stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and long-term disability worldwide and is often the result of embolic material from the heart or proximal aorta. These are referred to as cardioembolic sources of stroke. The investigation of patients with suspected cardioembolic stroke has traditionally been the mainstay of echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging technique that has rapidly evolved over the last decade and is playing an ever increasing role in clinical cardiovascular imaging. This review of the literature aims to furnish the reader with an understanding of the role of cardiac MRI across the spectrum of causes of cardioembolic sources of stroke by providing the reader with an overview of the indications, technical considerations, a proposed imaging algorithm, and capabilities of this technology with selected illustrated examples of disease entities.