Latest News

March 2008

Yale certified in CMR.  Here
NIH laptop containing medical data on cardiac MRI study of nearly 2,500 patients was stolen.  Here
Integrated PET-MRI Scanner Developed Here

February 2008

Good debate about CT ionising radiation from the NEJM. Here

January 2008

2008 SCMR Award Ceremony Photos

Anaesthesia system launched that is safe for MRI. details here.

December 2007

Horizon scanning by the NHS: the likely future roles of CMR.

Two reports: Viability and perfusion.

December 2007

New guidelines on the safety of MRI in patients with cardiovascular devices published in circulation.

For full text, see here (endorsed by SCMR)

November 2007

Generic gd contrast agent launched in Europe for cardiac MRI

MAGNEGITA(R) 500 (mu)mol/ml (Gadopentetate Dimeglumine) is about to be introduced for MRI in 22 European countries

See DettaglioNews

RSNA 2007

See the draft cardiac program

November 2007

AHA cardiac MR abstracts. 

Click on the links below to see all the abstracts in full.

cardiac MRI

Cardiac MR in Diagnosis and Prognosis

Clinical cardaic MRI

Young investigator award

New developments in cardiac MRI

November 2007

Newborns with congenital heart disease have abnormal braind development.  NEJM paper. 

November 2007

Orlando, AHA.  The Sanofi-aventis comprehensive program evaluating the acute and long-term effects of insulin glargine on cardiovascular outcomes will be using cardiac MRI in the INTENSIVE study. As part of this broad effort, the INTENSIVE (Intensive Insulin Therapy and Size of Infarct as a Validated Endpoint by Cardiac MRI) trial will use magnetic resonance imaging to compare the effects of tight glycemic control using insulin glargine and insulin glulisine to usual care on cardiac function (infarction size) in patients with ST-Elevation MI. Results are anticipated in 2009..

November 2007

Major tagging MRI study presented at AHA

aging and its effects on cardiac function were explored by the researchers led by Joao Lima, Johns Hopkins

Novenber 2007

Pacemakers safe for MRI under certain conditions

See here  (also the members only ongoing trials list here)

October 31st 2007

Siemens announce a new 3T magnet. CNN story.

Siemens story  Siemens press release

September 2007

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Predicts Early Mortality in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis  CME

News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
Release Date: September 27, 2007; 
September 27, 2007 — In patients receiving hemodialysis, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a predictor of early mortality, and exposure to gadolinium-containing contrast material is a significant risk factor for development of NSF, according to the results of a study published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

"NSF is a rapidly progressive, debilitating condition that causes cutaneous and visceral fibrosis in patients with renal failure," write Derrick J. Todd, MD, PhD, from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues. "Little is known about its prevalence or etiology."

At 6 outpatient centers in the Boston area, 186 patients treated with dialysis underwent a simple 3-part skin examination to detect the 3 skin changes associated with NSF: hyperpigmentation, hardening, and tethering of the skin on the extremities. Positive examination for NSF was defined as having at least 2 of these 3 findings. Mortality was followed for 2 years after the skin examination. Using electronic medical records, the investigators identified patients who had undergone scans with gadolinium-containing contrast agents, as well as the dates of exposure to these agents.

Of 186 patients, 25 (13%) had cutaneous changes consistent with NSF. Within 2 years of the skin examination, 45 (24%) patients died. Mortality rate was 48% for those with NSF vs 20% for those with a negative cutaneous examination (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 - 5.9). Increased risk for death in patients with skin changes of NSF occurred primarily within the first 6 months after the skin examination, suggesting an increased risk for early mortality.

In the subgroup of 90 patients for whom electronic records were available, 54 had been exposed to gadopentetate dimeglumine contrast during imaging studies, and 16 (30%) of these developed cutaneous changes of NSF. In contrast, only 1% of the 36 patients who had not been exposed to gadolinium developed NSF. Compared with patients who had not been exposed to gadolinium, those with such exposure were almost 15 times as likely to develop cutaneous changes of NSF (odds ratio [OR], 14.7; 95% CI, 1.9 - 117.0).

Because NSF is a recently reported condition, only 5 patients had skin biopsies. For each of these patients, the results of the biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of NSF.

"The paucity of available skin biopsy specimens highlights that NSF is likely underrecognized by many practicing physicians," the study authors write. "The identification of larger numbers of patients with NSF will allow further investigations into the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of this recently described debilitating, and potentially fatal, condition."

In an accompanying editorial, Shawn E. Cowper, MD, from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues note that reported cases of NSF have prompted a Public Health Advisory urging caution when using magnetic resonance imaging scans for patients with renal disease, as well as prompt dialysis in those who have undergone gadolinium-enhanced imaging procedures.

The early cutaneous changes reported in this study suggest that such changes may occur more frequently than was previously believed. These changes may reflect an early or less severe form of NSF. Unanswered questions about the cause and pathogenesis of NSF include why some patients exposed to gadolinium develop the disease, whereas others do not. Studying the response of cells to gadolinium exposure may help resolve these issues.

"Such information also could facilitate the development of MR [magnetic resonance] contrast agents that have a less toxic response profile, and preserve the high clinical utility of contrast-enhanced MR as an imaging modality in patients with renal insufficiency," Dr. Cowper and colleagues write.

Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:3173-3175, 3433-3441.

September 2007

Dipyridamole stress cardiovascular MRI predicts CAD outcomes

Pubmed abstract here

September 2007

JCMR - new publishing arangements

JCMR is moving to open access - read here

11th September 2007

Latin American Chapter Meeting:

The first SCMR Latin American Chapter Meeting took place in Sao Paulo in September 7th 2007. With the participation of over 30 specialists from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and United States the meeting was a success and the first of many steps in increasing the participation of Latin America in CMR. The meeting was honored be the presentation of our two invited speakers: Dr. Erasmo de La Pena-Almaguer from Mexico spoke about CMR at 3 Tesla and Dr. Gerald Pohost lectured about New Insights in CMR. After the talks, the group discussed future projects towards a better integration of all Latin American countries in CMR and the result of a recent poll among LAC CMR users was presented. There was a unanimous decision that the chapter should pursue the constant publication of its newsletter, a special meeting coinciding with the official SCMR Scientific Meeting and another one in conjunction with one of the national meetings of the countries it represents. The members present in the meeting also advised the creation of a Latin American registry of CMR exams. After the reunion the group continued to share their thoughts in a delightful dinner looking forward for their next assembly.  See photos below

Some interesting CMR review articles from the India Journal of Radiology and Imaging:

Gadolinium-containing MRI Contrast Agents for MRI.

Saftey resources. FDA warning MHRA warning (UK) Omniscan statement Clin Rad article JAMA article Latest UK/European advice (27/6/2007) full text review article from IJRI

Cost containment measures in US CVD imaging

- see streamed 'Insider view presentation' here.

SCMR atlas - further update: movies
Movies here. Introduction here. still atlas here. Old atlas here.

SCMR 2007 meeting– summary

The 10th SCMR meeting this year in Rome served to document the continued growth in CMR.  There were 885 attendees, 10% more than 2006.  Abstract submissions were 18% higher than ever before (546), and 139 invited speakers contributed to the scientific program.  In addition, an introductory physicians’ CMR course, pre-conference workshops on basic and experimental research in CMR and the technologists workshop contributed a solid and practical educational core to the program.  See the award winners and young investigator prize photos below.

2007 SCMR Award Ceremony Photos

MRI Scans to Be Made Safe for Pacemakers

2006 SCMR Annual Scientific Session Photos - Board Members and Award Ceremony

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Public Health Notification: MRI-Caused Injuries in Patients with Implanted Neurological Stimulators

2005 SCMR Award Winners for Best Abstract

Boston Scientific stent gets new directions
April 5, 2005
Boston Scientific Corp. said Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration approved new directions for its Taxus Express2 drug-coated coronary stent, allowing doctors to perform magnetic resonance imaging on a patient soon after receiving the device. Its shares rose nearly 3 percent. To see this recommendation, click here.

SCMR 2003 and 2002 Scientific Session DVDs are available for purchase through Educational Symposia, Inc.

35th Bethesda Conference — Cardiology's Workforce Crisis: A Pragmatic Approach

A survey in Germany performed by the working groups of CMR in the German Radiology and Cardiology Societies revealed that about 20000 clinical CMR studies are performed per year in Germany. As Matthias Friedrich pointed out in a small report, each group, Radiologists and Cardiologists, takes care of 50% (10000 studies). In more than 20 centers, the technique has become part of the clinical routine setting.

CMR within 8 weeks after coronary artery stenting is safe
A recent trial confirmed the saftey of coronary stents in 1.5T CMR systems. A group from Jacksonville, FL examined the cardiac adverse events rates of 111 patients who underwent mri within 8 weeks of coronary artery stenting. There were three repeat revascularizations within 30-day follow-up. No other cardiac adverse events were observed. The authors conclude that (i) CMR within 8 weeks after coronary artery stenting is safe, and (ii) that postponing CMR after coronary stenting is not necessary.

MR Laboratories Accredited by ICAMRL

SCMR Upcoming Meetings: SCMR Eleventh Annual Scientific Sessions will take place February 1-3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. SCMR Twelfth Annual Scientific Sessions will take place January 29 - February 2, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.

JCMR Online: Issues of JCMR from 2001 to the present are now available online in full-text, digital versions. All individual subscriptions now include both the printed journal and online access to the digital version of JCMR. Look for details regarding this important new membership service in the journal and in SCMR News!

"Guidelines for Credentialing in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance" developed by the Clinical Practice Committee of the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and approved by the SCMR Board of Trustees is now available online.

JCMR^® Recognized by ISI – The Society's Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance^® published by Informa Healthcare is now recognized by the ISI (the Institute for Scientific Information). ISI maintains the most comprehensive, multidisciplinary, bibliographic database of research information in the world. By being recognized by the ISI, the material published in the Journal will now be cited and the original research papers, reviews, editorials, etc will be counted in the citation index. It usually takes two years or more to be listed by the ISI. JCMR^® took a little over one year. This recognition gives JCMR^® the prestige that parallels that of our Society.

Submit news to the SCMR
Your submission will be reviewed by editorial staff; SCMR reserves the right to publish news stories on its website or in other venues.