Multimodality Imaging in Cardiology
Dr. Troy M LaBounty, MD, FACC
The following are key points to remember from this statement on
multimodality imaging in cardiology from the European Association of
Cardiovascular Imaging:
1. With the growth of cardiac imaging and
development of new imaging technologies and techniques, there is a
great need for cardiac imagers experienced in multiple imaging
modalities. However, there is a lack of existing cardiac imagers with
expertise in multiple modalities, and current training programs often
lack pathways to adequately train future cardiac imagers in more than
one modality.
2. The Task Force on Multimodality Imaging was established by the European
Association of Cardiovascular Imaging to identify a consensus on
developing, promoting, and implementing multimodality imaging to improve
patient care. This group identified core principles in imaging training
and imaging modality selection.
3. Teams work best when working together in a similar location. This
improves the ability to collaborate and discuss cases and provides
nonimagers with a central location to seek advice on cardiac imaging.
This requires workstations able to access all imaging modalities with
standardized formats. This also requires hospitals to break down “silos”
between imaging modalities. Clinical meetings to bring together
multimodality expertise are also important.
4. Cardiovascular imaging is currently provided by specialists from
cardiology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Collaboration and
integration should be a priority, as their different backgrounds may
improve patient care due to their complementary expertise.
5. All cardiac imagers with single modality backgrounds should develop a
basic understanding of all the other cardiac imaging modalities. These
individuals should be encouraged to develop at least a basic ability to
perform and interpret other imaging modalities. Training opportunities
are needed to facilitate this.
6. Trainees in cardiac imaging should receive training in a multimodality
imaging program. This requires integration and collaboration between
programs to provide comprehensive training.
7. Trainees specializing in imaging should develop a basic competence in
all cardiac imaging modalities, including the ability to perform and
interpret simple studies for each. They should achieve full training in
at least two different cardiac imaging modalities.
8. There are many barriers to achieving these goals, including financial
and management workflows, changes required for cardiac imagers, the need
for support from nonimagers, and regulatory changes.
9. Research is needed to determine the clinical and financial effects of a multimodality imaging strategy.
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