Bray, T. J. P., Eddison, J., Hamilton, J., Webb, D., Bennett, A., Machado, P. M., Gaffney, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7863-9176, Sengupta, R., Hall-Craggs, M. A. and Marzo-Ortega, H.
(2024)
Evaluation of the current use of MRI to aid the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis in the UK: results from a freedom of information request.
Clinical Radiology, 79 (2).
pp. 107-116.
ISSN 0009-9260
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the impact of recommendations from the 2019 consensus exercise conducted by radiologists and rheumatologists on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A freedom of information (FOI) request was used to assess the use of MRI in the diagnosis of axSpA and radiologists’ awareness of the 2019 guidance across all NHS Trusts and Health Boards in the UK, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. RESULTS: The FOI request was sent to 150 Trusts/Health Boards, and 93 full responses were received. Of the 93 respondents (97%), 90 reported familiarity with the term axSpA and 70/93 (75%) reported familiarity with the 2019 recommendations. Awareness of recommendations regarding specific MRI features supportive of the diagnosis of axSpA was 74/93 (80%) for the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) and 66/93 (71%) for the spine. The median wait for MRI acquisition was 2–3 months. Fifty-two of the 93 (56%) reported at least some outsourcing of axSpA MRI (33%/29% for specialist/non-specialist outsourcing respectively); 32/93 (34%) reported some scans being reported in-house by non-musculoskeletal radiologists. CONCLUSION: There have been several positive developments in the understanding and use of MRI for the diagnosis of axSpA in the UK since the 2017 survey, although substantial scope for further improvement remains. Several new challenges have also emerged, including the increase in waiting times, reliance on outsourcing, and the reporting of MRI by non-musculoskeletal radiologists.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | radiology nuclear medicine and imaging,sdg 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2741 |
Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
Related URLs: | |
Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
Date Deposited: | 13 Jan 2024 01:36 |
Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2024 01:53 |
URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/94159 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.crad.2023.10.009 |
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