Thursday, September 16, 2010

Does the choice of MRI machine matter?

"This is about an article on Kevin MD  in which a patient underwent MRI cervical spine for neck pain and was reported normal. Imaging was substandard and physician wanted another repeat MRI. However, insurance company refused as MRI was just done a week back. Patient was admitted and repeat study revealed cervical herniated disk."

  • My question in India in lot of places MRI are done in permanent magnet at about 0.3T strength and pathologies are often missed. Are they justified?
  • As a Reporting Radiologist will you write on such reports suboptimal for reporting?
  • What is the way out, for radiologists as if you are on payroll, you cannot possibly write suboptimal on each study and get paid for it as well. What if the patient sues the first radiologist for missed diagnosis, does he have the defense opf suboptimal machine and for that matter how do you define a suboptimal machine?

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