MRI reporting standard for chronic pelvic pain: Consensus development

Aim: To identify radiological parameters that should be reported on gynaecological MRI in order to create a standardized assessment pro forma for reporting CPP, which may be used in clinical practice. Methods: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in females is a common problem presenting a major challenge to healthcare providers. The complex multifactorial aetiology requires a multidisciplinary approach and often necessitates diagnostic laparoscopy for assessment. MRI is emerging as a potential non-invasive alternative for evaluation of CPP; however, standardization of reporting is required for it to be used in routine clinical practice. A two-generational Delphi survey with an expert panel of 28 radiologists specializing in gynaecological MRI from across the UK was used to refine a proposed reporting template for CPP. Results: 75% response rate for the first round and 79% for the second. Following the second round, agreement was reached on the structure of the pro forma and the way in which information was sought, with overall consistency of agreement between experts deemed as fair (intraclass correlation coefficient50.394). This was accepted as the final version by consensus. Conclusion: The standardized pro forma developed in this study will form the basis for future prospective evaluation of MRI in CPP. This template could be modified for the assessment of other benign gynaecological conditions. Advances in knowledge: Female CPP is a significant problem presenting challenges for clinicians. MRI is often used for evaluation and standardization of techniques, and reporting is required. The pro forma developed in this study will form the basis for future prospective MRI evaluation.