The patients’ experience of neuroimaging of primary brain tumors: a cross-sectional survey study

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 162; no. 2; pp. 307 - 315
• Main Authors: Wamelink, Ivar J. H. G., Hempel, Hugo L., van de Giessen, Elsmarieke, Vries, Mark H. M., De Witt Hamer, Philip, Barkhof, Frederik, Keil, Vera C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Brain - pathology; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Brain tumors; Contrast Media; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Female; Gadolinium; Humans; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuroimaging; Neurology; Oncology; Patients; Retrospective Studies; Surveys; Tumors; Primary brain neoplasms; Gadolinium; Survey; Magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04290-x

Purpose To gain insight into how patients with primary brain tumors experience MRI, follow-up protocols, and gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) use. Methods Primary brain tumor patients answered a survey after their MRI exam. Questions were analyzed to determine trends in patients’ experience regarding the scan itself, follow-up frequency, and the use of GBCAs. Subgroup analysis was performed on sex, lesion grade, age, and the number of scans. Subgroup comparison was made using the Pearson chi-square test and the Mann–Whitney U-test for categorical and ordinal questions, respectively. Results Of the 100 patients, 93 had a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis, and seven were considered to have a slow-growing low-grade tumor after multidisciplinary assessment and follow-up. 61/100 patients were male, with a mean age ± standard deviation of 44 ± 14 years and 46 ± 13 years for the females. Fifty-nine patients had low-grade tumors. Patients consistently underestimated the number of their previous scans. 92% of primary brain tumor patients did not experience the MRI as bothering and 78% would not change the number of follow-up MRIs. 63% of the patients would prefer GBCA-free MRI scans if diagnostically equally accurate. Women found the MRI and receiving intravenous cannulas significantly more uncomfortable than men ( p  = 0.003). Age, diagnosis, and the number of previous scans had no relevant impact on the patient experience. Conclusion Patients with primary brain tumors experienced current neuro-oncological MRI practice as positive. Especially women would, however, prefer GBCA-free imaging if diagnostically equally accurate. Patient knowledge of GBCAs was limited, indicating improvable patient information.