Radiologists and cardiologists at odds over who handles heart imaging interpretations
A heated debate is brewing between cardiologists and radiologists overseas which specialty should handle heart imaging interpretations.
Reports out of Poland recently have detailed the contrasting, and sometimes contentious, viewpoints between the professions regarding the share of reporting responsibilities for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and cardiac MRI exams. Cardiologists contend they should be the ones reading these exams, citing radiologists’ lack of clinical context as a key factor, especially for remote reads. The Polish Cardiac Society alleges that this lack of clinical context can negatively affect patient care, sometimes leading to referrals for invasive procedures that may not be necessary.
"Imaging diagnostics make sense when they lead to a specific clinical decision. Cardiologists have always performed and interpreted coronary angiography," Professor Janina Stępińska, chair of the National Council for Cardiology, said in a news release. "Noninvasive coronary angiography is now an essential diagnostic tool. A cardiologist who knows the patient can assess the cardiovascular risk and suggest optimal management without unnecessary procedures."
Radiologists, however, disagree. Representatives from the specialty maintain that reporting results can largely depend on the context they are given, exam quality, standardized protocols and more. This is true regardless of the specialists patients are being treated by.
Tensions between the two groups in the region have recently come to a head. So much so that the Polish Cardiac Society is calling for a new competency‑based certification system that would allow trained cardiologists to perform, supervise and report cardiac CT and MRI exams. Cardiologists say the move would reduce reporting bottlenecks and ensure cardiac patients’ clinical histories play a prominent role when considering imaging findings, while radiologists in opposition say it could undermine patient trust in their specialty.
A similar model is followed in the U.S., where cardiologists generally report on higher volumes of cardiac MRIs. However, as these exams have become more readily available in recent years, there has been a shift from hospital-based cardiac imaging to outpatient settings. This has placed increased responsibilities for cardiac exams on radiologists and is likely to continue to organizations to adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and equipment that make cardiac exams more feasible.
Read more about the ongoing debate here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.