A standardized cardiovascular magnetic resonance protocol can be performed in under 30 minutes to effectively answer common clinical questions in daily cardiovascular practice.
Implementing standardized 30-minute CMR protocols can efficiently answer common clinical questions and facilitate increased global access to cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND: Despite decades of accruing evidence supporting the clinical utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), adoption of CMR in routine cardiovascular practice remains limited in many regions of the world. Persistent use of long scan times of 60 min or more contributes to limited adoption, though techniques available on most scanners afford routine CMR examination within 30 min. Incorporating such techniques into standardize protocols can answer common clinical questions in daily practice, including those related to heart failure, cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, and non-ischemic myocardial injury. BODY: In this white paper, we describe CMR protocols of 30 min or shorter duration with routine techniques with or without stress perfusion, plus specific approaches in patient and scanner room preparation for efficiency. Minimum requirements for the scanner gradient system, coil hardware and pulse sequences are detailed. Recent advances such as quantitative myocardial mapping and other add-on acquisitions can be incorporated into the proposed protocols without significant extension of scan duration for most patients. CONCLUSION: Common questions in clinical cardiovascular practice can be answered in routine CMR protocols under 30 min; their incorporation warrants consideration to facilitate increased access to CMR worldwide.
Raman et al. (Sat,) conducted a review in Cardiovascular diseases. 30-minute CMR protocol was evaluated. A standardized cardiovascular magnetic resonance protocol can be performed in under 30 minutes to effectively answer common clinical questions in daily cardiovascular practice.