ACCF/ACR/AHA/NASCI/SCMR 2010 Expert Consensus Document on Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

Preamble This document was developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents (ECDs) and cosponsored by the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Heart Association (AHA), North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI), and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), to provide a perspective on the current state of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). ECDs are intended to inform practitioners and other interested parties of the opinion of the ACCF and document cosponsors concerning evolving areas of clinical practice and/or technologies that are widely available or new to the practice community. Topics are chosen for coverage because the evidence base, the experience with technology, and/or the clinical practice are not considered sufficiently well developed to be evaluated by the formal ACCF/AHA practice guidelines process. Often the topic is the subject of ongoing investigation. Thus, the reader should view the ECD as the best attempt of the ACCF and document cosponsors to inform and guide clinical practice in areas where rigorous evidence may not be available or the evidence to date is not widely accepted. When feasible, ECDs include indications or contraindications. Typically, formal recommendations are not provided in ECDs as these documents do not formally grade the quality of evidence, and the provision of " Recommendations " is felt to be more appropriately within the purview of the ACCF/AHA Practice Guidelines. However, recommendations from ACCF/AHA Clinical Practice Guidelines and ACCF Appropriate Use Criteria are presented where pertinent to the discussion. The writing committee is in agreement with these recommendations. Finally, some topics covered by ECDs will be addressed subsequently by the ACCF/AHA Practice Guidelines Committee. The task force makes every effort to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest that might arise as a result of an outside relationship or personal interest of a member of the writing panel. Specifically, all members of the writing panel are asked to provide disclosure statements of all such relationships that might be perceived as real or potential conflicts of interest to inform the writing effort. These statements are reviewed by the parent task force, reported orally to all members of the writing panel at the first meeting, and updated as changes occur. The relationships and industry information for writing committee members and peer reviewers are published in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the document, respectively.