Multicenter research priorities in pediatric CMR: results of a collaborative wiki survey

Abstract

Multicenter studies in pediatric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) improve statistical power and generalizability. However, a structured process for identifying important research topics has not been developed. We aimed to (1) develop a list of high priority knowledge gaps, and (2) pilot the use of a wiki survey to collect a large group of responses. Knowledge gaps were defined as areas that have been either unexplored or under-explored in the research literature. High priority goals were: (1) feasible and answerable from a multicenter research study, and (2) had potential for high impact on the field of pediatric CMR. Seed ideas were contributed by a working group and imported into a pairwise wiki survey format which allows for new ideas to be uploaded and voted upon (https://allourideas.org). Knowledge gaps were classified into 2 categories: ‘Clinical CMR Practice’ (16 ideas) and ‘Disease Specific Research’ (22 ideas). Over a 2-month period, 3,658 votes were cast by 96 users, and 2 new ideas were introduced. The 3 highest scoring sub-topics were myocardial disorders (9 ideas), translating new technology & techniques into clinical practice (7 ideas), and normal reference values (5 ideas). The highest priority gaps reflected strengths of CMR (e.g., myocardial tissue characterization; implementation of technologic advances into clinical practice), and deficiencies in pediatrics (e.g., data on normal reference values). The wiki survey format was effective and easy to implement, and could be used for future surveys.

Cardiac MRI in diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children: current perspectives

“…Currently, there is a shortage of (universal) paediatric normative datasets, like parametric mapping and tissue characterisation. 61 T1 mapping results vary between the different vendors and types of CMR scanners (including the magnetic field strength and the manufacturer). Therefore, local reference T1 values are typically used by individual institutions to identify abnormal myocardium.…”

“…Other emerging CMR techniques could be used in paediatric HCM patients, like strain measurements, 4D flow and diffusion tensor imaging and evaluation of the atria. 61 , 62 However, the clinical relevance and applicability of these techniques in the paediatric population should be further explored first. Subsequently, LGE and perfusion imaging techniques could be further improved by implementing (deep learning based) quantitative approaches.…”

Design and implementation of multicenter pediatric and congenital studies with cardiovascular magnetic resonance: Big data in smaller bodies

“…Within the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), a separate ‘Knowledge Gap Task Force’ was formed to poll SCMR PCHD community members at large and identify collective research goals that were (1) of high impact in the field of PCHD CMR, and (2) feasible and answerable from a multicenter study ( Fig. 2 ) [9] .…”