The Spine Journal published a study examining the variability between 10 MRI centers that took imaging exams of the same patient's spine during a three week period.
The patient, a 63-year-old female, had a history of low back pain and right L5 radicular symptoms. The study authors examined the MRI; both of the authors were subspecialists in spine radiology from different institutions. They examined the MRI exams independently and then came to a final diagnosis by consensus.
The researchers found:
1. There were 49 distinct findings related to distinct pathology at one motion segment in the 10 exams.
2. There weren't any interpretive findings reported in the exams; there was one finding reported in all but one exam.
3. Around 32 percent of the interpretive findings only appeared on one MRI and the Fleiss' Kappa static indicated "poor overall agreement on interpretive findings."
4. Average false negative counts per exam was reported as 10.9±2.9 out of 25 and the average false positive was 1.6±0.9.
5. The study authors found, "marked variability in the reported interpretive findings and high prevalence of interpretive errors in the radiologists reports of an MRI exam of the lumbar spine performed on the same patient at 10 different MRI centers over a short period."
The study authors concluded where patients obtain MRIs could have an impact on the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.