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Evaluation of the current use of MRI to aid the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis in the UK: results from a freedom of information request

Bray, TJP; Eddison, J; Hamilton, J; Webb, D; Bennett, A; Machado, P; Gaffney, K; ... Marzo-Ortega, H; + view all (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. 10.1016/j.crad.2023.10.009. Green open access

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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.

Type: Article
Title: Evaluation of the current use of MRI to aid the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis in the UK: results from a freedom of information request
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.10.009
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crad.2023.10.009
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; axial spondyloarthritis
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10179900
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