Key result
An international survey of CMR centers showed an increase in median annual pediatric/CHD cases per center from 183 in 2014 to 250 in 2024, with 90% of centers performing exams in infants.
Why the study?
Few data exist on practice trends for cardiovascular magnetic resonance in pediatric and congenital heart disease.
Cross-Sectional (n=124)
Yes
This international survey demonstrates a growing volume and capacity for pediatric and congenital CMR, including increased utilization in infants and consistent scanner time allocation.
Tracks rising CMR volumes in pediatric CHD; leaves open needs for standardization and outcome studies.
BACKGROUND: Few data exist on practice trends for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in pediatric and congenital heart disease (CHD). The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance addressed this gap by conducting an international survey of CMR sites in 2014 and 2018. We now report the most recent survey results from 2024. METHODS: Surveys with 31 (2014), 33 (2018), and 41 (2024) items were sent to all SCMR members. One response per center was collected. RESULTS: There were 93 centers that responded in 2014, 83 in 2018, and 124 in 2024. The following results are per center and data from 2014, 2018, and 2024 are separated by dashes. The median annual number of pediatric/CHD CMR cases was 183-209-250. The median number of CMR scanners was 2-2-2 (range, 1-8) with 58-63-53% using only 1.5T scanners and 4-4-3% using only 3T. CMR examinations were performed in infants (<1 year old) in 74%-76%-90% and sedation and/or anesthesia was used in 84%-86%-94% of the centers. The mean number of attendings/staff reading CMRs was 3.7-2.6-2.9. Combining attending/staff physicians from all centers, 52-61-62% were pediatric or adult cardiologists, and 47-38-37% were pediatric or adult radiologists. The median annual case volume per physician per center was 54-86-76. The median number of technologists was 4-5-4. The median scanner time allocated for a non-sedated examination was 75-75-75minutes (range, 30-120minutes). Among the 14 centers responding to all 3 surveys, the mean annual case volume was 380-500-588, with 82% of centers experiencing a sequential increase in volume with each survey. All of these 14 centers were in the United States and for them, the mean time for an attending/staff physician to perform a typical CMR examination, including supervision and reporting, was 150-153-154minutes, and the median scanner time allocated per ex per year was 92 in the amination for non-sedation cases remained unchanged at 90-90-90minutes. CONCLUSION: These survey data provide a unique and comprehensive view of CMR practice in pediatric and CHD across centers worldwide. This information is useful for internal benchmarking, resource allocation, addressing practice variation, quality improvement initiatives, and identifying unmet needs.
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Buddhe et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Pediatric and congenital heart disease (n=124). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) practice was evaluated on Practice trends including annual case volume, scanner types, sedation use, and staffing. An international survey of CMR centers showed an increase in median annual pediatric/CHD cases per center from 183 in 2014 to 250 in 2024, with 90% of centers performing exams in infants.
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