Authors: Harry R F Powell Dennis I Choa
Publish Date: 2010/03/30
Volume: 267, Issue: 9, Pages: 1361-1366
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI is recognised as the “Gold Standard” investigation for symptoms pertaining to the inner ear and detection of retrocochlear pathology There is still no accurate clinical predictor for cerebellopontine angle lesions and increasingly more normal scans are being performed With constantly increasing demands on ENT outpatient clinics our aim was to investigate whether all patients referred for MRI of their internal auditory meatus IAM require followup in ENT clinics A retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary referral centre referring patients for MRI IAM from ENT clinics and neurotology clinics on 153 patients referred for MRI IAM performed over a 4month period The MRI reports and the case notes of the patients were reviewed MRI results and patient symptoms with patient followup schedule and followup situation for at least 6 months postscan were compared There were two patient groups those referred from main outpatients 81 and those referred by the audiological physicians 72 Of the total number of scans 101 were reported as normal 45 had incidental findings and 7 showed pathology of the cerebellopontine angle The presenting complaints of the patients the scan results and the followup since were compared Six months later 63 of those referred from outpatients were no longer being followed up in clinic We suggest that 568 of patients referred for MRI IAM do not require ENT followup Their symptoms and concerns could be dealt with at the first consultation where onward referral could be made if necessary Once checked by the requesting clinician uncomplicated scan results could be sent to the patients and general practitioners by post or email This would reduce the burden on general otolaryngology outpatient clinics and improve resource utilisation
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