Pediatric Cross-Sectional Cardiac Imaging in Europe: Current Status, Disparities, and Potential Solutions: A Survey from the Association for European Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) Imaging Working Group.

Abstract

Cross-sectional cardiac imaging including cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) allows three-dimensional imaging of intracardiac and extracardiac structures. This study was undertaken to better understand current European practice of pediatric cardiology cross-sectional imaging, in addition to how training is undertaken in different centers. A structured detailed 64-question survey focusing on cross-sectional imaging was circulated to all Imaging Working Group members of the 95 AEPC affiliated centers. Consultants from 42 centers (44%) from 25 different European countries completed the survey, between 7th July 2024 and 28th October 2024. Ninety percent of centers have been performing pediatric CCT for > 10 years, with median 135 scans/year. Comparatively, 84% of centers have been performing CMR for > 10 years, with a median 200 scans/year. CCT was performed by a pediatric radiologist, whereas CMR was more often performed by a pediatric cardiologist, but frequently both modalities were undertaken by a combination of pediatric cardiologists and radiologists. Less than two-third of centers surveyed train fellows in CMR or CCT. Many fellows travel abroad to obtain specialist training. Just over half of the centers surveyed have institutional guidelines for pediatric CCT/CMR, with the majority agreeing that provision of European (AEPC-led) guidelines for pediatric CCT/CMR would be helpful. Across Europe there is significant variation in how CCT/CMR is performed and how pediatric cardiologists are trained in cross-sectional imaging. This survey highlights the current state of cross-sectional imaging in Europe, challenges faced, but also explores potential solutions to standardize European cross-sectional imaging.