Marco Francone MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Filippo Cademartiri MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Speakers Bureau, Bracco Group

Andrea Mancini MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Guido Ligabue MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Luigi Lovato, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ernesto E. Di Cesare MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fifty-one sites were involved in this Italian multicenter Registry, which sought to evaluate clinical indications, spectrum of acquisition protocols, impact on clinical decision making and safety profile of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR).

Data of our registry were prospectively collected during a 6-month period and included a population of 3376 patients (mean age 51.5 yrs; range 1-92 yrs; 2254 males). Participating centers were recruited via email based on the mailing list of the Italian Society of Radiology (SIRM) and each center appointed a senior referral physician (radiologists or cardiologists) 
 A preliminary general report and a single form/patient was completed by each center.

Most of the investigations were performed with 1.5 T scanners (96%) followed by 3T (3%) and 1T (1%) magnets and contrast agent was administered in 84% of the cases. The most frequent clinical indication for CMR was evaluation of patients with suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (11.2%), followed by myocardial iron overload quantification (9,8%) acute myocarditis (9,7%), and hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (9,2% and 8.7%, respectively). In 65% of cases CMR was positive (non diagnostic in only 1% of patients), and the final diagnosis provided by the examination was considered clinically relevant and with significant impact on patient’s clinical/therapeutic management in 50% of the cases. Safety assessment revealed a total of 30 (0.88%) clinical events during or immediately after the acquisition, most of which due to patient’s poor clinical conditions prior to the examination No patient died during/or because of CMR. Exams were performed in 73% of the cases by board-certified radiologists, 18% in cohoperation by radiologists/cardiologists and 9% of the cases by cardiologists or double-specialty physicians.

CMR is performed in a large number of centers with relevant impact on clinical decision making in most of the cases and high patient’s safety profile.

Preliminary results of present study offer an initial overview of CMR diffusion and utilization in Italy.

Francone, M, Cademartiri, F, Mancini, A, Ligabue, G, Lovato, L, Di Cesare, E, Italian Registry of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12036202.html