Table 2 Advantages of T2 mapping in selected myocardial diseases. The meta-analysis from Snel et al. included sufficient studies to conclude that T2 relaxation time is significantly prolonged above healthy subjects for all diseases included in this table except cardiac amyloidosis. Since the time of its publication, additional studies have shown T2 mapping as an accurate discriminator between AL and transthyretin amyloidosis as well as an accurate prognosticator (see Cardiac Amyloidosis section of main text). The rightmost column adds important advantages of T2 mapping

Myocardial infarction

58.5 ± 5.8 ms vs. 49.3 ± 2.6 ms in controls

31

T2 mapping differentiates acute vs. chronic myocardial infarction

T2 mapping is used in measuring area at risk

T2 mapping identifies intramyocardial hemorrhage

Heart transplant

54.6 ± 5.2 ms vs. 49.2 ± 2.5 in controls

11

T2 mapping is a reliable surrogate for direct tissue assessment in transplant rejection

Prolonged T2 time may identify patients that will benefit from immunosuppression modification despite negative endomyocardial biopsy

Myocarditis

61.9 ± 11.5 ms vs. 54.4 ± 5.9 ms in controls

19

Prolonged T2 time corresponds to myocardial edema and inflammation on biopsy

Abnormal T2 relaxation time has high sensitivity for diagnosing acute myocarditis

Persistently prolonged T2 relaxation time is associated with increased adverse cardiac events

Amyloidosis

55.3 ± 4.2 ms vs. 50.2 ± 2.7 in controls

2

Local toxicity of amyloid deposits results in longer T2 time, particularly in light chain (AL) amyloidosis

T2 mapping helps differentiate AL from ATTR amyloidosis

Dilated cardiomyopathy

62.9 ± 5.7 ms vs. 55.4 ± 3.5 in controls

9

T2 mapping improves early detection of dilated cardiomyopathy, prior to left ventricular dysfunction

Shorter T2 time in patients with successful reverse myocardial remodeling after goal directed medical therapy