Assessing MRI scan necessity in oncology services to ensure appropriate use of resources: a cross-sectional study in Oman

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable diagnostic technique in oncology, used for detection of tumours, disease staging and response to therapy. However, inconsistencies in the use of MRIs across services and specialties remain. In this study, use of MRIs in a cancer centre in Oman was analysed to detect trends in imaging practices according to service, body location, clinical specialty and purpose. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the cancer centre for 3 months (June–August 2024), analysing 208 randomly selected MRI scans. Data were collected from patient records and analysed through percentage and mean difference data using the SPSS version 29. Inferential t tests were used to compare MRI necessity scores necessity across specialties, services, body locations and purposes. The most common services that required MRI examination were breast oncology (29.8%) and the most commonly scanned body locations were the spine (25.0%) and brain (21.2%). Over three-quarters of scans were given a high necessity score of 7–10 out of 10, with the mean score being 7.94. However, there were some significant variations between necessity scores between requesting services, body locations and specialties. A minority (7.2%) of scans were requested with no clear indication. MRI scanning is a crucial tool in oncology services, and there is a balance to be struck between ensuring timely access to this technology and preventing unnecessary use. Although the majority of the scans requested in this study were found to be necessary, improving the appropriateness of requests is still important, especially in resource-limited settings. Data regarding MRI scanning use and necessity across services could be used to inform policies aiming to referral criteria and ensure appropriate resource use. The method used in this study could potentially be applied to other healthcare centres, with linkage to long-term patient outcomes offering a useful avenue for further research.