Late gadolinium enhancement is the technique of choice for detecting myocardial 
fibrosis. Although this technique is used in a wide range of cardiovascular 
pathologies, ischemic cardiomyopathy and the workup for myocarditis and other 
cardiomyopathies make up a significant proportion of the total indications. 
Multiple studies during the last decade have demonstrated its utility to 
adequately characterize myocardial tissue and offer diagnostic and prognostic 
information. Recent T1 mapping techniques aim to overcome the limitations of 
late gadolinium enhancement to assess diffuse fibrosis. ¹⁹F magnetic resonance 
has recently emerged as a promising technique for the assessment of 
inflammation. In the following review we will discuss the basic aspects of 
fibrosis assessment with MR and its utility for diagnostic and prognostic 
evaluation. We will also address the topic of cardiovascular inflammation 
imaging with ¹⁹F as a potential new development that may broaden the indications 
for MR in the future.