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How to develop and sustain a successful pelvic floor MRI practice

  • Special Section: Pelvic floor
  • Published:
Abdominal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvic floor has become a commonly requested diagnostic tool for pelvic floor assessment. We provide a practical guide for developing, growing, and troubleshooting a dedicated pelvic floor imaging service.

Methods

The authors provide an organized approach to the development of a pelvic floor MRI program based on the experience of the SAR Pelvic Floor Disease Focused Panel in academic and private practice settings. Topics addressed include creating interest, staff education, patient preparation both before and after arrival to the imaging center, image acquisition, reporting, and troubleshooting.

Results

Using the organization and approach in this guide, the challenge of growing this relatively complex imaging program can be simplified. Familiarity with best practices and established techniques used by successful programs will allow new sites to avoid early pitfalls and quickly develop a mature and autonomous workflow.

Conclusions

The development and growing of a pelvic floor MRI program presents its own set of challenges and unique workflow issues which can create anxiety in both patients and providers. We systematically present an approach to streamline the development of a successful pelvic floor MRI program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, Oceanside, NY, USA

    Ari Steiner

  2. Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA

    Ari Steiner

  3. Department of Radiology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Robert Marks

  4. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Robert Marks

  5. Division of Abdominal Imaging & Interventions, Department of Radiology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Simin Bahrami

  6. Department of Medical Imaging, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Hina Arif-Tiwari

Authors
  1. Ari Steiner
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  2. Robert Marks
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  3. Simin Bahrami
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  4. Hina Arif-Tiwari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ari Steiner.

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The author(s) are military service members. This work was prepared as part of official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. 105 provides that ‘Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government.’

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Steiner, A., Marks, R., Bahrami, S. et al. How to develop and sustain a successful pelvic floor MRI practice. Abdom Radiol 46, 1443–1450 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-02204-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-02204-y

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