Incidental Findings in Head and Brain MRI of Military Pilots and Applicants: Consequences for Medical Flight Fitness.

With improved imaging technology, the number of incidental findings detected in cerebral MRI is increasing. This is a challenge that the German Air Force has to deal with in the context of standardized MRI examinations of young pilot candidates and pilots. The German Air Force Centre of Aerospace Medicine hosted a 2-d conference to develop recommendations and procedures for the handling of some of the most frequently encountered cerebral incidental findings.

Incidental Finding Prevalences in 3-Tesla Brain and Spine MRI of Military Pilot Applicants.

Incidental findings in brain and spine MRI are common. In aerospace medicine, pilot selection may be affected by improved sensitivity of modern MRI devices. We investigated the occurrence of medically unfit rates caused by incidental findings in military pilot applicants using a 3-Tesla scanner as compared to the outcomes of a lower field strength 1-Tesla device based on similar screening protocols.

Incidental findings in magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of healthy young men.

Background And Purpose: To determine the frequency of serious intracranial abnormalities in a healthy young male population.

Methods: Cranial MRI of 2,536 healthy young males, mean age 20.5 years, all applicants for military flying duties in the German Air Force.

Cranial MRI as a screening tool: findings in 1,772 military pilot applicants.

Background: Beginning 1 January 2000, during the selection process, the German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine screens all applicants for flying duty using cranial MRI to rule out relevant intracranial abnormalities. Type and frequencies of abnormalities and aeromedical consequences are described.

Methods: An intracranial MRI is done on every applicant regardless of the findings of the physical examination.