Clinical Scorecard: Essential User Needs for Quantitative Imaging Reports in Multiple Sclerosis

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Automated MRI segmentation techniques improve sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, and reduce processing time compared to manual methods.
• Quantitative radiological reports (QReports) provide automated brain and lesion volume quantification contextualized by normative data to support clinical decision-making.
• A Delphi panel of MS clinicians identified user requirements and consensus recommendations to guide QReport development for clinical implementation.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Use QReports to support diagnosis by providing quantitative lesion and brain volume measures contextualized with normative reference data.
• Include relevant MRI measures identified by expert consensus for diagnostic purposes.

Management

• Incorporate QReports in clinical workflows for monitoring disease progression and prognosis in MS patients.
• Ensure QReports include spinal cord measurements as identified by clinician feedback.
• Adapt QReports to align with clinician preferences to facilitate smooth clinical implementation.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Use QReports for longitudinal monitoring of lesion load and brain volume changes to inform treatment decisions.
• Provide clear visualization and interpretation aids within QReports to enhance clinical utility.

Risks

• Recognize that lack of alignment with clinician requirements may hinder widespread clinical adoption of QReports.
• Exclude responses with insufficient knowledge to maintain data quality in consensus development.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with multiple sclerosis undergoing MRI for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring

QReports can provide objective quantitative data to support clinical decisions but require clinician-aligned design for effective use.

Clinical Best Practices

• Engage multidisciplinary expert panels including neurologists and neuroradiologists to define user requirements for imaging reports.
• Use iterative Delphi methodology with structured questionnaires and consensus thresholds to refine clinical tools.
• Incorporate normative reference data and clear visualization in QReports to enhance interpretability and clinical relevance.
• Continuously validate and update QReports based on clinician feedback and evolving clinical needs.

References

• Multiple sclerosis overview and MRI role
• Automated lesion and brain volume segmentation advances
• Development and clinical adaptation of quantitative radiological reports
• Delphi panel methodology in clinical consensus