title: Imaging Registries and Single-Center Series.
abstract: Randomized controlled trials are often regarded as the pinnacle of research designs, valued for their rigor and internal validity. However, their high costs and selected patient populations limit their applicability, and complementary study designs are needed to guide evidence. In the realm of cardiovascular imaging, research designs using single-center series and registries have contributed key foundational insights into diagnosis, resource use and cost patterns, and prognosis as derived from practical, "real-world" settings. This review highlights the strengths and limitations of these study designs, provides notable examples, and indicates future directions for research.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Imaging Section, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: hach@msn.com.
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hachamovitch
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Leslee J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design
keywords: cardiovascular imaging; registries; single-center series