title: Pelvimetry and patient acceptability compared between open 0.5-T and closed 1.5-T MR systems.
abstract: Our objective was to compare maternal pelvimetry and patient acceptability between open low-field (0.5-T) and closed 1.5-T MR systems. Thirty women referred for pelvimetry (pregnant: n=15) were scanned twice in the supine position, once in the vertical open system and once in the closed system. Each patient completed a comfort and acceptability questionnaire. Pelvimetric and questionnaire data were compared between systems. Total scan time was double in the open system (7:52+/-1:47 vs 3:12+/-1:20 min). Poor image quality in the open system prevented assessment of interspinous and intertuberous diameters in one woman and all measurements in another, both pregnant, with abdominal circumferences >120 cm. The open system was much more acceptable in terms of claustrophobia and confinement (both p<0.01). Claustrophobia interrupted one closed examination. Thirty-three percent of pregnant women in both systems reported fear of fetal harm. Sixty percent of all women preferred the open system, 7% the closed system, and 33% had no preference. Limits of agreement of 3-5% from the mean for all diameters confirmed good pelvimetric reproducibility. Women's preference for open-system MR pelvimetry is feasible with abdominal circumferences <or=120 cm.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sven C A
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rake
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Götzmann
authors.forename: Burkhardt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrazzini
authors.forename: Rabih
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaoui
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Treiber
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marincek
authors.forename: Rahel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kubik-Huch
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010387:Pelvimetry / Q000379:methods*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011859:Radiography; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D016387:Women's Health