Wide, short bore magnetic resonance at 1.5 t: reducing the failure rate in claustrophobic patients.

PURPOSE: Claustrophobic reactions in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have a significant impact on the workflow, patient acceptance and ultimately the costs involved in obtaining a diagnostic scan. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of a wide, short bore MRI scanner could reduce the need for general anesthesia assistance in these cases.

METHODS: Between September 2006 and March 2008, all patients for whom MRI examinations of the head and/or spine were canceled or prematurely terminated due to claustrophobia on a standard 60 cm bore, 1.5 T scanner were scheduled to be re-scanned on a 70 cm wide bore, 1.25 m long 1.5 T scanner. This re-scanning attempt was made 2 or more days prior to a scheduled anesthesia-assisted MRI appointment. If the patient successfully completed the wide bore MRI examination then the anesthesia-assisted MRI appointment was canceled.

RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included in this study. The examinations included individual body regions as well as combination examinations (head and cervical spine, entire spine etc.). A total of 72 body regions were examined in 56 patients. Of these regions, 65 (90%) were completed successfully, 50 patients (89%) successfully completed a diagnostic examination on the 70 cm scanner and 6 patients (11%), all of whom were scheduled for examinations which included the head, were unable to complete the examination on the wide bore scanner.

CONCLUSIONS: A 1.5 T wide short bore scanner increases the examination success rate in patients with claustrophobia and substantially reduces the need for anesthesia-assisted MRI examinations even when claustrophobia is severe.