RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: We carried out an evaluation of Greek cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data in order to analyse the indications, safety, quality, and impact on management, in comparison with the EuroCMR registry. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of Greek CMR data from patients referred from 6 Greek cardiac clinics to 6 different MRI units in Athens that offer CMR services. A total of 10,000 CMR examinations carried out from 1995 to 2010 were evaluated retrospectively and included in the study. RESULTS: Fifty percent of patients underwent evaluation for thalassaemic syndromes. In the remaining 50%, the most important indications were: a) workup of myocarditis/cardiomyopathies (40%), b) assessment of viability (5%), and c) congenital heart disease (5%). Image quality was good in 75%, moderate in 15%, and inadequate in 10% of cases. Complications occurred in 0.02%, including allergic reactions, dyspnoea, and panic attack. No death or cardiac complication was observed during or due to CMR; however, stress testing was not used in any of the cases. In 65% of all CMR studies, the initial diagnosis made by a non SCMR-trained person had no impact on the patients' management and did not offer any diagnostic contribution to referral clinicians, discouraging them from referring for CMR again. However, after the re-evaluation performed by an SCMR-trained person, the results of the Greek CMR were capable of satisfying all imaging needs in a percentage of patients equivalent to that presented in the EuroCMR registry (83% vs. 86%, p=NS), so that no further non-invasive imaging procedures would be required after CMR. CONCLUSIONS: Thalassaemia and myocarditis were the most frequent CMR indications in Greece. However, the lack of training according to SCMR guidelines lowers the diagnostic efficacy significantly and leads to under-use of the technique.