The cardiac imaging team at Elisabeth Hospital Essen has launched ‘Pop-up Cardiac MRI’, a new networking and knowledge-sharing initiative for MRI centres across North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The inaugural event, held on 15 October 2026, was organised by the Essen imaging team in collaboration with Helios Heart Centre Wuppertal. It brought together teams from various MRI centres and specialists from across the region.

The initiative aims to connect the centres and facilitate the exchange of clinical experience through discussions of real-life cases. The inaugural event focused on MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries). A diagnostic update and a series of selected case presentations provided the basis for lively discussions in an open and collegial atmosphere.

The Erwin L. Hahn Institute, located on the Zollverein coking plant site in Essen, was deliberately chosen as the first and particularly special venue. Dr Franziska Günther and Prof Harald H. Quick warmly welcomed the guests and arranged a guided tour of the institute, including a visit to its 7-Tesla MRI system.

The series is intended to continue at different venues across NRW in the future.