Figure 1

Drawings of four MR scanners which will be used in the custom-made questionnaire to assess which specific MR scanner design is evaluated to be the most attractive. Patients will be asked to rank the four MR scanner types according to their preferences. First, this assessment will be done assuming equal diagnostic utility of the MR scanners, and second, assuming for scanner A good, for scanner B very good, for scanner C moderate and for scanner D adequate diagnostic utility. Panel A shows the open MR scanner with a vertical magnetic field design and 1-T field strength (Panorama, Philips). Panel B shows the closed MR scanner with a short- and wide-bore design and 1.5-T field strength (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens). Panel C shows an open MR scanner with a one column design and a 0.4-T vertical magnetic field. Panel D shows a MR scanner with a 0.6-T horizontal magnetic field and a top/front-open design which allows upright positioning of the patient, while patients have to be examined in supine position on the scanners A-C. This information will allow defining which further improvements by the vendors might be necessary to reduce claustrophobic reactions during MR imaging.