In what scenarios might a cardiac MRI be particularly useful?

Cardiac MRI is particularly useful for diagnosing infiltrative disorders like amyloidosis due to its ability to provide detailed images of the heart's structure and function. These images enable healthcare professionals to assess heart tissue characteristics and identify abnormal patterns that may indicate the presence of amyloid deposits. Infiltrative diseases often affect the myocardium, and cardiac MRI can reveal the extent of tissue involvement and the impact on cardiac function, assisting in both diagnosis and management.

In contrast, while other scenarios mentioned may involve different forms of imaging or monitoring techniques, they are not the primary focus or strength of cardiac MRI. For instance, detecting arrhythmias typically relies on electrocardiograms (ECGs) or Holter monitors, rather than MRI, which is not designed to capture electrical activity. Assessing lung capacity is best evaluated through pulmonary function tests rather than MRI, which concentrates on cardiac structures. Monitoring heartbeats during exercise is an application more suited to stress testing or telemetry monitoring rather than imaging techniques like MRI, which assesses the anatomical and functional aspects of the heart at rest or in controlled conditions.