Radiologists’ Role in Cardiac Imaging Strengthened by European Registry Data

A new commentary by Marc Dewey in European Radiology highlights the growing importance of radiologists in cardiac CT and MR imaging across Europe, drawing on data from the ESCR registry. Between 2011 and 2022, the volume of cardiac CT and MR examinations increased 4.5-fold and 3.8-fold, respectively—reflecting the rising clinical demand in cardiovascular care.

Key findings:

  • Main indications: Suspected CAD (59%) for CT; suspected myocarditis (26%) for MR
  • Reporting responsibility: Majority of exams were interpreted by radiologists (76% CT, 71% MR)
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration: Around 20–30% of reports involved joint reads with non-radiologists
  • Training and standardization: The ESR and ESCR have launched major initiatives, including curricula, fellowships, and e-learning tools to boost radiologist expertise in cardiac imaging

Dewey emphasizes the need for further protocol harmonization, AI integration, and data sharing (e.g., via EUCAIM and GUIDE-IT) to ensure high-quality, patient-centered care.

Congratulations to Marc Dewey for this thoughtful commentary and continued leadership in advancing cardiovascular imaging across Europe.

The open-access article appears in Volume 34, pp. 6578–6580 of European Radiology.