Brain magnetic resonance imaging: perception and expectations of neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has rapidly become an essential diagnostic tool in modern medicine. Understanding the objectives, perception and expectations of the different medical specialties towards MRI is therefore important to improve the quality of the examinations. Our aim was to better comprehend the reasons and expectations of neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists when requesting brain MRI scans for their patients, and also to perceive the degree of confidence of these specialists in the images and respective reports. Sixty-three specialists were recruited from two tertiary hospitals and answered a tailored questionnaire. Neurosurgeons were more concerned with the images themselves; neurologists lacked confidence in both MRI images and reports, and one third of the psychiatrists only read the report and were the most confident of the specialties in MRI findings. These results possibly reflect the idiosyncrasies of each of these medical specialties. This knowledge, driven by efficient communication between neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons, neurologists and psychiatrists, may contribute to improve the quality of MRI examinations and consequently patient care and management of health resources.

Keywords: ethics; interdisciplinary communication; magnetic resonance imaging; neurology; neurosurgery; psychiatry; radiology.

Figure 1

Questionnaire. Tailored questionnaire applied to the sample of neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists (translated into English for comprehension).

Figure 2

Confidence in brain magnetic resonance images, protocols and examination reports. Graphic representations across specialties – Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry – illustrating confidence in brain magnetic resonance images, protocols and reports.