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Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the safety practices used by MRI departments in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study across 113 private and public hospitals was conducted in Saudi Arabia. A survey questionnaire was designed and sent to 113 MRI units. The questionnaire consisted of 43 items under 14 sections for the assessment of MRI safety practices. These 14 sections are related to (i) MRI and its safety, (ii) MRI usage and its safety, and (iii) safety of the MRI technologists and reporting of adverse effects during the usage. The American College of Radiology (ACR) guidance document on MRI safety practices was used as a template for this survey. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistical software for Windows version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Of the 43 items assessed, only 3 items’ binary responses (Yes & No) did not differ much. A greater proportion of positive responses for 40 items (93%) regarding MRI safety practices. More than 50% of the participants claimed that their departments lacked a Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO). Regarding regular safety training programs, less than 50% received training in MRI safety. Handheld metal detectors were found in only 39% of the MRI units. Conclusion The majority of MRI units in Saudi Arabia have demonstrated compliance with majority of ACR MRI safety recommendations; nonetheless, there are two main items for which the guidelines may not be attained: MRSO and regular MRI safety training programs. By taking into account the limitations of this study, it is strongly recommended to assign MRSO and implement annual MRI safety training to improve MRI safety practices for both patients and healthcare workers.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) played a significant role in the digital health platforms that influenced and supported modern medicine. However, there is a shortage of MRI in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The International Society of Radiology offers a detailed plan for LMICs to advance imaging quality in the global health agenda. The overarching objective of this scoping review was to determine the impact of MRI in healthcare in LMICs. This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify available evidence. We systematically searched four academic databases for peer-reviewed literature published between 2018 and 2021, namely, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as Google Scholar as a source for gray literature. The search identified 54 articles. We identified a range of reasons for introducing MRI in LMICs. Nonetheless, some challenges to accepting MRI as a method of healthcare have been reported, including technological, regulatory, and economical challenges. To implement the proposed plan, the involvement of professional and international organizations is considered crucial. The establishment of an International Commission on Medical Imaging under the umbrella of international organizations is suggested and collaboration with other diagnostic disciplines is encouraged to raise awareness of the importance of upscale diagnostics at large and to foster its integration into the care pathway globally.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic method in modern clinical medicine. Patients' knowledge about MRI is of utmost importance for optimizing the workflow, safety, and patient comfort and saving valuable time for the MRI department. This study investigates patient knowledge levels regarding MRI safety before an MRI examination. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 200 patients who required MRI. Recruitment occurred over eight weeks in governmental and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia; both hospitals and participants were selected randomly. The questionnaire was given to the patients prior to their MRI scans. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed to identify relationships between knowledge of MRI safety and selected demographic groupings (age, gender, education level, income level). It also evaluates their source of information and assesses the patient's previous experience regarding MRI scans. Results:The study sample consisted of 200 patients from 230 surveys distributed in Saudi Arabia, and the response rate was ~ 87%. Depending on the P-values of the chi-square statistical test to find the relationship between socio-demographic factors and patient' knowledge level, the results showed a significant association (p-value=0.006) between age and gender and the level of knowledge relating to MRI safety issues. A similar significance (p-value=0.042) is observed between the knowledge level of patients and their educational level and annual income. In addition, a highly significant association (p-value<0.001) is found between education level or previous experience and whether people seek information about MRI safety. Conclusion:The study findings suggest that a complex combination of factors affects patient knowledge regarding MRI safety before an MRI examination. Hence, the hospital and radiological department must provide the patient with accurate information about MRI.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disorder associated with abnormal lipid accumulation within hepatocytes, is considered benign disorder in nature. However, in some cases it may progress to inflammation, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), then cirrhosis, precancerous nodules and finally to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD and NASH are both reversible with appropriate clinical intervention and lifestyle changes. In developed countries, the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming one of the most common causes of precancerous and HCC lesions [1]. Unfortunately, most nodular lesions are detected too late with a poor prognosis. The discovery of markers that can predict which livers may progress to HCC would allow early intervention and potentially halting progress to HCC. This would be of great benefit at any stage up to precancerous lesions, however the earlier the better.Development of end stage liver malignancy would be decreased, resulting in decreased mortality from this disease.Histology is considered the reference standard for the assessment of fatty disease and nodular lesion in liver. However, there are significant drawbacks including invasiveness, small sample size and observer-dependence which limits its usefulness in evaluating liver disease.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive modality that can provide information on anatomical and physiological changes in the liver (e.g. fatty liver disease and HCC). MRI images are primarily assessed visually by expert radiologists looking for anatomical and contrast changes in the images compared to normal tissue. This qualitative method requires inspection of all datasets for abnormalities. Visual interpretation is subjective, labour intensive, and depends on the experience of the radiologist. This can introduce inter-observer variation and is suitable only when the pathology leads to sufficient contrast changes in the images acquired.MRI also allows the calculation of quantitative parameters like T1, T2 and diffusion values. These parameters are dependent on physical, chemical and microstructural properties of the tissue. When standard protocols are used, the calculation of these parameters should be independent of the observer. This has the potential for more precise characterization of changes that occur over time. Clinically, here has been limited utilization of these methods, as they generally require longer acquisition times and significant post processing of the images. Declaration by authorThis thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text.