Clinical/methodical issue: Besides ischemic heart disease cardiomyopathies are common causes of heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
Standard radiological methods: The diagnostic spectrum in cardiomyopathies comprises non-invasive and invasive examination techniques.
Methodical innovations: The exact verification of certain cardiomyopathies necessitates knowledge of the latest classification of cardiomyopathies as well as dedicated examination protocols.
Performance: Modern imaging modalities, such as echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have emerged as useful imaging tools in the investigation of patients suspected of having many different types of cardiomyopathies.
Achievements: Based on a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology several diagnostic criteria have been defined using cardiac MRI. In particular there is an increasing importance of cardiac MRI in the description of patients with restrictive and unclassified cardiomyopathies.
Practical recommendations: Echocardiography still remains the modality of choice in the diagnostics of unclear left ventricular heart failure. Further diagnostic work-up should include cardiac MRI in case of any lack of clarity.