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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Improving Patient Access and Scanning Efficiency in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Esosa Odigie-Okon1, Olushola Ogunleye1, Avery Love2
1Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.
Background:
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a comprehensive noninvasive diagnostic tool for cardiac conditions. Factors affecting CMR efficiency include image acquisition, analysis, patient compliance, scan times, scanner accessibility, and expert personnel availability.
Project Rationale:
This project aimed to optimize image acquisition time and diagnostic accuracy in CMR by in-person and remote real-time supervision of pathology-driven scan protocols tailored to the most likely clinical diagnosis.
Project Summary:
A review of 343 contrast and noncontrast CMR scans revealed a statistically significant 35.1% decrease in average scan duration from preintervention to postintervention, from 94.78 to 61.49 minutes, with improved diagnostic accuracy. This decrease directly resulted in an increase in CMR scan volume of 32% at the main campus and 200% at a satellite campus, as well as the establishment of a new CMR imaging service line at a third satellite campus.
Take-Home Message:
Streamlining CMR workflow improves efficiency, patient access, and diagnostic accuracy, leading to better patient outcomes.
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