The Right Imaging Protocol for the Right Patient

Abstract

Objective: This article provides a high-level overview of the challenge of choosing the right imaging approach for an individual patient. It also presents a generalizable approach that can be applied to practice regardless of specific imaging technologies.

Essential points: This article constitutes an introduction to the in-depth, topic-focused analyses in the rest of this issue. It examines the broad principles that guide placing a patient on the right diagnostic trajectory, illustrated with real-life examples of current protocol recommendations and cases of advanced imaging techniques, as well as some thought experiments. Thinking about diagnostic imaging strictly in terms of imaging protocols is often inefficient because these protocols can be vague and have numerous variations. Broadly defined protocols may be sufficient, but their successful use often depends largely on the particular circumstances, with special emphasis on the relationship between neurologists and radiologists.