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CRF is a 501(c)3
not-for-profit organization.
Cardiovascular Research Foundation
111 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1202
212.851.9300

Please contact us
if you would like
further information.

MRI Program

Directed by Steven D. Wolff, MD, PhD, CRF's Cardiovascular MRI Program was established in May 2000 to perform research and education in cardiovascular MRI. Research and Education are closely aligned with the Clinical Cardiovascular MRI program at Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging, a private practice in Manhattan.

Research

Cardiovascular MRI is often superior to other diagnostic tests such as nuclear medicine and echocardiography in the assessment of cardiovascular disease. It is also an excellent noninvasive alternative to x-ray angiography. However, one of the reasons it is underutilized is that it can be difficult to perform and analyze a study quickly and easily. Another is the relative paucity of data documenting its efficacy compared to older conventional diagnostic tests. Consequently, much of our research is focused on:

Technical developments that will improve our ability to assess the cardiovascular system in a clinical environment;
Validation studies that will document the clinical importance of these techniques to the medical and scientific community;
Participation in multicenter research trials to establish that the efficacy of these techniques can be generalized to the entire medical community.

While our laboratory is concerned with all aspects of cardiovascular MRI, areas of particular interest include myocardial perfusion, tissue viability, valvular function, and the assessment of blood velocity and flow.

Education

MRI is a rapidly evolving field. Innovations in software, hardware, and contrast agents are expanding and improving the ability of MRI to assess the cardiovascular system. There is an immense need for education. For example, technologists need to learn the latest methods for image acquisition and analysis. Physicians need to learn how to accurately interpret new types of studies. And the medical community at large needs to learn how to utilize this technology so that they can take better care of their patients. We offer a number of educational opportunities:

Cardiovascular MRI and MRA Workshop. This 3-day weekend course is given quarterly. It includes lectures, a case library review, and a hands-on tutorial in scanning and analysis.
Cardiovascular Visiting Fellowship. Fellowships are designed to meet the needs of the individual participant. Scheduling is flexible and the duration of the fellowship can range from 1 day to 6 weeks or longer. Participants may use the fellowship to meet the Level II or III credentialing criteria proposed by the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. For more information, refer to our educational brochure.
Cardiovascular MRI and CT Scanning: Practical Application and Clinical Utility. This annual course is given in Washington, DC to coincide with TCT. The course focuses on clinical cardiovascular MRI and CT and includes a series of didactic lectures from an internationally recognized faculty. To highlight the efficacy of MRI the audience will be presented with a number of case studies where they can "read with the experts."

Clinical

Cardiac MRI provides a wealth of information during a single 30-minute examination. Some of the different types of clinical studies are listed below. The links provide some examples as to the kinds of patients that would likely benefit from the added information that MRI provides.

Cardiac

Function: Extremely reproducible and accurate for assessing ejection fraction and quantifying left ventricular volume. Sample Indications
Morphology: High resolution, high contrast images provide an ideal assessment of cardiac anatomy. Sample Indications
Myocardial Perfusion: Performed during pharmacologic stress, can even assess subendocardial ischemia. Sample Indications
Myocardial Viability and Infarct Sizing: Highest resolution technique for showing the precise extent of infarcted myocardium. Sample Indications
Valvular Assessment: Most accurate technique for quantifying regurgitant valvular disease. Can quantify stenotic valvular disease as well. Sample Indications