Cardiac radiology. A survey of its current status.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: A number of pressures have taken their toll on cardiovascular (CV) imaging in radiology. We conducted a survey to develop accurate information about the current status of cardiac radiology (CR) that might guide future responses and initiatives. METHODS: To assess the current status of CR, a survey form was sent to all 117 active radiologist members of the North American Society for Cardiac Imaging (N = 72) and/or the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology of the American Heart Association (N = 98). The topics of inquiry included 1) present CR staffing; 2) specific adult and pediatric CR activities (cardiac plain-film interpretation, cardio-angiography (CA), echocardiography, nuclear cardiology (NC), and CV magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); 3) CR instruction of radiology residents; and 4) CR fellowship activities. RESULTS: The survey was concluded with 64 (55%) individual responses from 58 (67%) different centers with CR groups. An overall need for CR staff (average unfilled positions/center = 0.4) was indicated. Regarding CR activities, the following were reported: 1) universal cardiac plain-film interpretation by radiologists, with most CR groups involved (adult, 64%; pediatric, 64%); 2) moderate CR contributions to CA (adult, 62%; pediatric, 57%), of which cine interpretation was the most common form (79% and 85%, respectively); 3) rare CR involvement in echocardiography (adult, 9%; pediatric, 6%); 4) low-level CR involvement in NC (adult, 16%; pediatric, 17%), but high level when combined with that of nuclear medicine (93% and 91%, respectively); and 5) almost universal radiology responsibility for CV MRI (adult, 96%; pediatric, 96%), with extensive CR involvement (77% and 82%, respectively). Of 46 reporting academic centers, most (76%) required CR training of residents; a smaller proportion (33%) of all centers offered CR fellowships. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the insights gained from this survey, recommendations can be better made to strengthen CR based on a foundation in plain-film interpretation, computed tomography, NC, and MRI.