Multicenter Survey of Current Practice Patterns in Perfusion MRI in Neuroradiology: Why, When, and How Is It Performed?

OBJECTIVE: Perfusion MRI is an advanced imaging technique with a number of potential neuroradiologic applications. However, there are few guidelines about the application of perfusion MRI in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to assess when and how perfusion MRI is performed across national and international practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An international survey was conducted through the American Society of Neuroradiology e-mail list. The survey included questions relating to demographics, whether perfusion MRI was offered, technical details, reporting, and reimbursement.

RESULTS: Most (81.0%) of the practices responding offered perfusion MRI; this proportion increases to 94.3% among academic and 95.3% among large practices. Intraaxial tumor, stroke, and arterial stenosis are the most frequent reasons for offering perfusion imaging. Most practices offer perfusion imaging on the basis of the judgment of the referring physician or person writing the protocol for the study, or they offer it for all intraaxial tumors. The most frequent method is dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI (86.8%) followed by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (40.7%) and arterial spin-labeling MRI (34.8%). A minority (22.7%) of practices seek reimbursement for perfusion MRI. Most of the practices provide quantitative findings in radiology reports, most frequently cerebral blood volume (92.7%), cerebral blood (62.9%), and mean transit time (51.0%).

CONCLUSION: Despite the paucity of high-quality trials and guidelines for specific clinical applications, perfusion MRI is widely used by both academic and private practices. A minority of practices attempt to obtain reimbursement. This widespread adoption of perfusion imaging beyond its apparent financial footprint suggests that practicing radiologists and referring clinicians find value in the technique and underscores the need for more high-quality trials to solidify understanding of the role of perfusion MRI.