Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2025
Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Turnaround time and efficiency of pediatric outpatient brain magnetic resonance imaging: a multi-institutional
Shireen E Hayatghaibi1, Cecilia G Cazaban2, Sherwin S Chan3,4
1Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. Shireen.hayatghaibi@cchmc.org.
Background:
Aside from single-center reports, few data exist across pediatric institutions that examine overall MRI turnaround time (TAT) and the determinants of variability.
Objective:
To determine average duration and determinants of a brain MRI examination at academic pediatric institutions and compare the duration to those used in practice expense relative value units (RVUs).
Materials And Methods:
This multi-institutional cross-sectional investigation comprised four academic pediatric hospitals. We included children ages 0 to < 18 years who underwent an outpatient MRI of the brain without contrast agent in 2019. Our outcome of interest was the overall MRI TAT derived by time stamps. We estimated determinants of overall TAT using an adjusted log-transformed multivariable linear regression model with robust standard errors.
Results:
The average overall TAT significantly varied among the four hospitals. A sedated brain MRI ranged from 158 min to 224 min, a non-sedated MRI from 70 min to 112 min, and a limited MRI from 44 min to 70 min. The most significant predictor of a longer overall TAT was having a sedated MRI (coefficient = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-0.75; P < 0.001). The median MRI scan time for a non-sedated exam was 38 min and for a sedated exam, 37 min, approximately double the duration used by the Relative Value Scale (RVS) Update Committee (RUC).
Conclusion:
We found considerable differences in the overall TAT across four pediatric academic institutions. Overall, the significant predictors of turnaround times were hospital site and MRI pathway (non-sedated versus sedated versus limited MRI).
Insights
Pediatric brain MRI turnaround times (TAT) vary significantly across institutions, with sedation being a major factor. Actual scan times often exceed recommended durations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric radiology
- Healthcare operational efficiency
Background:
- Limited multi-institutional data exists on pediatric MRI turnaround times (TAT).
- Understanding TAT variability is crucial for optimizing pediatric imaging services.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine average brain MRI duration in children at academic pediatric hospitals.
- Identify factors influencing MRI TAT.
- Compare pediatric MRI durations to established practice expense relative value units (RVUs).
Main Methods:
- Multi-institutional, cross-sectional study of outpatient pediatric brain MRIs (0-18 years) without contrast in 2019.
- Collected data from four academic pediatric hospitals.
- Analyzed overall MRI TAT using time stamps and multivariable linear regression.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in average TAT observed among the four hospitals.
- Sedated MRIs had the longest TAT (158-224 min), followed by non-sedated (70-112 min) and limited (44-70 min) exams.
- Sedation was the most significant predictor of longer TAT; actual scan times were nearly double RVU estimates.
Conclusions:
- Considerable differences in pediatric brain MRI TAT exist across institutions.
- Hospital site and MRI pathway (sedated, non-sedated, limited) are key predictors of TAT.
- Current RVU durations may not accurately reflect actual pediatric MRI times.
