Intermediate
Technical
IVT
LGE
Also written as: LGE — Late Gadolinium Enhancement
Late gadolinium enhancement, delayed contrast imaging that identifies myocardial scar and fibrosis.
Full Definition
Late gadolinium enhancement is a cardiac MRI technique performed 10-20 minutes after gadolinium contrast administration to detect areas of myocardial fibrosis, scar, or acute injury. Normal myocardium washes out contrast rapidly, while areas of fibrosis or necrosis retain gadolinium, appearing bright on T1-weighted images. LGE imaging is fundamental for assessing myocardial viability, characterizing cardiomyopathies, and determining the extent of myocardial infarction.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize all letters when used as abbreviation.
In Context
- "LGE imaging revealed transmural enhancement in the anterior wall consistent with chronic infarction." — Cardiac MRI report
- "No LGE was detected, suggesting preserved myocardial viability." — Viability assessment report
Also known as
delayed enhancement
delayed gadolinium enhancement
Don't confuse with
first-pass perfusion
T1 mapping