[Guide to the purchase of a cardiovascular magnetic resonance scanner: minimum requirements].
Magnetic resonance imaging has become an important and sophisticated tool for non-invasive evaluation of patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease. These technical capabilities have determined in many hospitals and universities the need for purchasing magnetic resonance scanners capable of executing cardiovascular examinations. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the devices and the number of different possible hardware and software configurations offered by the vendors, never the choice between one scanner and the other or between one configuration and the other is easy. The aim of this review is to analyze the different components of a magnetic resonance scanner, identifying the minimum hardware and software requirements needed to perform cardiovascular examinations, in order to provide the physician or the hospital administrator interested in buying a scanner with some directions to make an informed choice.
Chiribiri
Amedeo
A
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi, Torino. amedeo.chiribiri@gmail.com
Natale
Luigi
L
Lombardi
Massimo
M
D000465:Algorithms; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003132:Commerce; D003201:Computers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D010820:Physicians; D011682:Purchasing, Hospital; D012984:Software; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000191:economics