Request form history, clinical indication, and yield of brain magnetic resonance studies.

Purpose: To investigate whether improved clinical history allows the radiologist to better predict the pretest probability of obtaining a positive or negative result from a magnetic resonance (MR) examination.

Materials And Methods: Six neuroradiologists prospectively reviewed 100 consecutive requests for brain MR examinations and sequentially assessed 1) quality of written history, 2) degree of indication for requested study, and 3) any pertinent new information found during chart review that may have altered the degree of indication. MR yield was correlated with the degree of indication assessed before and after chart review.