title: Discovery and disclosure of incidental findings in neuroimaging research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine different protocols for handling incidental findings on brain research MRIs, and provide a platform for establishing formal discussions of related ethical and policy issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corresponding authors identified from a database of peer-reviewed publications in 1991-2002 involving functional MRI (fMRI), alone or in combination with other imaging modalities, were invited to participate in this web-based survey. The survey asked questions regarding knowledge and handling of incidental findings, as well as characteristics of the scanning environment, training required, IRB protocol requirements, and neuroradiologist involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four investigators who conduct MRI studies in the United States and abroad responded. Eighty-two percent (54/66) reported discovering incidental findings in their studies, such as arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, and developmental abnormalities. Substantial variability was found in the procedures for handling and communicating findings to subjects, neuroradiologist involvement, personnel permitted to operate equipment, and training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guidelines for minimum and optimum standards for detecting and communicating incidental findings on brain MRI research are needed.
authors.affiliation: Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304-5748, USA. iles@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illes
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kirschen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karetsky
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Raffin
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Atlas
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D030881:Disclosure / Q000941:ethics*; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000941:ethics*