Biswita C. Mozumdar MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

To design templates to be used by residents and new fellows during review and reporting of neuroradiology cases.

A list of studies commonly performed in the neuroradiology division of a teaching hospital was compiled. Specifically, MR examinations of the brain, neck, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, magnetic resonance angiography of the head and neck, CT exams of the head, sinuses, orbits, facial bones; neck, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine were included in the list. Structures to be described in the individual examinations were identified.Reference was made to a textbook providing the requisites of neuroradiology.

In the brain, the list of structures to be studied include the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and brain stem; ventricular systems and basal cisterns (any mass effect, midline shift or hydrocephalus); proximal intracranial vascular structures, paranasal sinuses, orbits and mastoids. The neck examination included visualized brain parenchyma, upper cervical spine, sinuses and mastoids, parotid, submandibular and thyroid glands, lymph nodes and vessels, nasopharynx, oropharynx and upper airways, lung apices.In the spine, the architecture and alignment of vertebrae disc spaces and any extradural defects, spinal canal/neural foramina, cord and paraspinal soft tissues.Magnetic resonance angiography of the neck demonstrates the common, internal and external carotid, and vertebral arteries. In the head, the internal carotids divide into anterior and middle cerebrals; the vertebrals join to form the basilar that bifurcates into posterior cerebral arteries.A similar procedure was followed for the other studies.The list of structures to be included in individual examinations were then tabulated to create a simplified template to be used by residents, new fellows during review/reporting.

Generation of standardized templates to be used in radiology reporting may improve thoroughness and accuracy and reduce variability. Similar templates could be generated in other divisions of radiology. Further research may be performed to gauge the responses of residents and new fellows with respect to ease of radiology reporting using the templates.

Mozumdar, B, Structured Reporting Templates in Neuroradiology.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4408330.html