An audit of the clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging of the head and spine.

An audit was undertaken of the use of magnetic resonance imaging for clinical problems of the head and spine. Using a form of simulation, two consultant clinicians were asked to assess a sequential series of 200 patients referred for magnetic resonance. The clinicians considered that 200 magnetic resonance studies could replace about 330 other imaging and neurophysiology investigations; the cost of the alternative tests approximated the cost of magnetic resonance. However, there was considerable variation between cases in the costs of investigations potentially replaced by the procedure under audit, and this variation suggests ways in which magnetic resonance might be used more cost-effectively in the future.