Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Cardiac Electronic Devices: Evidence from a Multicenter Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine 2023-10, Vol.12 (20), p.6673
• Main Authors: Barison, Andrea, Ricci, Fabrizio, Pavon, Anna Giulia, Muscogiuri, Giuseppe, Bisaccia, Giandomenico, Camastra, Giovanni, De Lazzari, Manuel, Lanzillo, Chiara, Raguso, Mario, Monti, Lorenzo, Vargiu, Sara, Pedrotti, Patrizia, Piacenti, Marcello, Todiere, Giancarlo, Pontone, Gianluca, Indolfi, Ciro, Dellegrottaglie, Santo, Lombardi, Massimo, Schwitter, Juerg, Aquaro, Giovanni Donato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiac patients; Cardiovascular research; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators; Magnetic fields; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical examination; Methods; Optical properties; Patients; Physiological aspects; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206673

Background: Most recent cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) can safely undergo a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scan under certain conditions, but metal artifacts may degrade image quality. The aim of this study was to assess the overall diagnostic yield of CMR and the extent of metal artifacts in a multicenter, multivendor study on CIED patients referred for CMR. Methods: We analyzed 309 CMR scans from 292 patients (age 57 ± 16 years, 219 male) with an MR-conditional pacemaker (n = 122), defibrillator (n = 149), or loop recorder (n = 38); CMR scans were performed in 10 centers from 2012 to 2020; MR-unsafe implants were excluded. Clinical and device parameters were recorded before and after the CMR scan. A visual analysis of metal artifacts was performed for each sequence on a segmental basis, based on a 5-point artifact score. Results: The vast majority of CMR scans (n = 255, 83%) were completely performed, while only 32 (10%) were interrupted soon after the first sequences and 22 (7%) were only partly acquired; CMR quality was non-diagnostic in 34 (11%) scans, poor (