title: MR imaging with remote control: feasibility study in cardiovascular disease.
abstract: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant study and waived informed consent. The purpose was to retrospectively evaluate remote control magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in complex cardiovascular procedures, whereby operational expertise was made available locally from a remote location. Thirty patients underwent cardiac (12 patients) and/or vascular (30 patients) 1.5-T MR imaging with a remote operator by using a personal computer. All patient studies were compared with 30 control studies obtained with conventional local imaging. Cardiac cine, myocardial delayed enhancement, and MR angiograms were assessed for overall image quality and motion artifact. MR angiograms were evaluated for vascular definition. Image quality was excellent in 90% (38 of 42) of remote images versus 60% (25 of 42) of control group images (P < .01). Scores for motion artifact were not significantly different (P = .11). Interactive MR imaging was successfully implemented with remote control in complex cardiovascular cases; diagnostic quality of images was superior to that of images obtained locally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Peter V. Ueberroth Bldg, Suite 3371, 10945 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7206, USA. pfinn@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thesen
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ruehm
authors.forename: Margaret H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grinstead
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Child
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laub
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*