Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard imaging modality for soft tissues. It produces detail cross-sectional images of soft tissue and bone anatomy, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, brain and organs, without the use of ionizing radiation. In addition to orthopedic imaging, MRI is also used for heart, brain and breast. MRI uses gadolinium contrast in many exams to highlight tissues and blood vessels, which enhances images and offers better diagnostic quality. It can also be used in conjunction with PET scans. How does MRI work? MR creates images by using powerful magnets to polarize hydrogen atoms in water (the body is made of of more than 80% water) so they face in one direction. A radiofrequency pulse is then used to ping these atoms, causing them to wobble, or resonate. The MRI coils detect this and computers can assemble images from the signals. Basic MRI scans will focus on the resonance of fat and water in two different sequences, which highlight and contrast different features in the anatomy.

Caution

Fire at VA hospital in Boston leads to closure of MRI suite

No one was injured in the incident, which originated from under the MRI machine.

March 28, 2024
Prostate Cancer

SIR 2024: Study finds ultrasound ablation to be a precise, effective treatment for prostate cancer

The MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation comes with minimal side effects, offering cancer patients an alternative to radiation or surgery.

March 27, 2024
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped cardiologists, radiologists, nurses and other healthcare providers embrace precision medicine in a way that ensures more heart patients are receiving personalized care.

FDA clears AI-enhanced 3D heart models generated from MR and CT images

The inHeart models significantly reduce cardiac ablation surgery times.

March 20, 2024
White House

NIH study finds no evidence of ‘Havana syndrome’ in brains of affected individuals

Brain scans on those with symptoms of the mysterious illness and a control group were found to be the same.

March 19, 2024
Radiologist using the Philips Smart Quant 3D Neuro artificial intelligence (AI) software to perform our measurements for white matter, gray matter and other parameters on brain MRI.

PHOTO GALLERY of brain imaging

This is a clinical photo gallery of neuro imaging and what conditions can be can be visualized in brain scans, and various imaging techniques used.

March 18, 2024
Medical 3D printing expert Summer Decker, PhD, professor and vice chair for research and innovation, and director of 3D clinical applications, University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine and Tampa General Hospital, explains what is involved in creating a 3D printiung program in radiology and how it helps patient care.

Pitching the business case for 3D printing labs in radiology

Medical 3D printing expert Summer Decker, PhD, University of South Florida, explains how her lab has helped improve patient care. 

March 14, 2024
An MRI of a fetus inside the mother. The freakish appearance of the eyes and the face are normal for MRI fetal imaging. Image courtesy of RSNA. Baby MRI, baby ultrasound

PHOTO GALLERY: What does fetal medical imaging look like?

This is a clinical photo gallery of fetal imaging that explains what all can be seen on medical imaging, how sex is determined, how measurements are used to track the development of a baby.

March 11, 2024
Dementia

Researchers develop new method for early detection of Alzheimer’s

Higher levels of amyloid protein in the blood correlate with MRI images of the brain that are consistent with dementia.

March 8, 2024

Around the web

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

"I see, at least for the next decade, this being a SPECT and PET world, not one or the other," explained Tim Bateman, MD.

The FDA-approved technology developed by HeartFlow can predict a patient's long-term risk of target vessel failure as well as more invasive treatments performed inside a cath lab. 

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