ANALYSIS OF MRI UTILIZATION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Utilization of pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at a single public hospital. Method: Ethical approval was obtained for data records of pediatric MRI scans from 1st January to 31st December 2018 to be extracted from the Radiology Information System (RIS) at the King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Usage rates were classified and analysed according to the major influencing factors, namely age, gender, admission type, exam type, indication and the use of contrast agents.The frequency variations of genders were evaluated, and the chi-square test was used to analyse whether there was an association between age and other categories such as admission and exam types. Results: Overall, the study shows a pediatric MRI usage rate per MRI unit visit of 5.1%. Headache, back pain, pain and undescended testes were the most common indications in neuroradiology, spine, musculoskeletal and abdomen and pelvis exams, respectively. Among outpatients, more males had an MRI scan than females (49/77= 63.6 %, p= 0.169) while among inpatients, more females had an MRI scan than males (47/75= 62.7 % p= 0.728). Inpatients who had an MRI scan were significantly younger (mean age = 2.40, std = ? 4.1) than the outpatients (mean age = 6.6, std = ? 4.6) p = 0.000. There was a significant difference between the mean age of patients undergone brain MRI and different exam types as the mean age of brain was 3.3 ? 4.6, 7.4 ? 4.9 (p= 0.02) for spinal scans, 7.1 ? 3.9(p= 0.000) for musculoskeletal exams and 6.3 ? 5.2(p = 0.018) for abdomen and pelvis exams. Conclusion: Pediatric MRI usage was significantly influenced by age, most notably between outpatients and inpatients and between exam types.