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.

GE HealthCare's new MRI contrast agent advances to clinical trial

Experts are hopeful that the first-of-its-kind injectable manganese-based macrocyclic agent will offer a suitable alternative to GBCAs, as it can be more efficiently eliminated from the body.

March 1, 2023

MRI findings differ significantly in boys and girls who have sustained concussions

Findings from functional MRI brain scans following concussions in pediatric patients indicate that injury recovery times may differ between sexes. 

February 27, 2023

Rod Stewart is helping to address 'ridiculous' backlogs by paying for patients' imaging exams

The legendary singer's actions were prompted, in part, by his own experience undergoing medical imaging recently.

February 27, 2023
0.55T MRI lumbar compared to 1.5T sequence #lumbarMRI #1.5T

Low-field MRI systems improve accessibility, but what kind of diagnostic quality do they offer?

Experts recently compared the use of a 0.55T low-field MRI system to a 1.5T system to determine whether the results rendered were within an acceptable diagnostic range.

February 24, 2023

Fatal accident calls MRI safety standards into question—are more regulations needed?

There are a number of well-intended recommendations for preventing MRI injuries, but many of them stop short of implementing safety requirements.

February 24, 2023
surgical mask

Some long COVID patients display 'severe' changes in their brain

For patients with anxiety and depression, even mild cases of long COVID could result in functional and structural alterations of the brain.

February 21, 2023
gadolinium, GBCAs

Expert left 'astounded' by gadolinium discovery

New data out of the University of New Mexico suggest that the imaging agent’s physiologic reach may exceed what was previously believed.

February 17, 2023
long covid lung CT

Some long COVID patients continue to display multi-organ damage one year after recovery

A new study utilizing multi-organ MRI scans recently identified organ impairment in 62% of COVID long haulers six months after their initial diagnosis; 29% of these individuals continued to display damage in at least one organ at the 12-month mark.

February 15, 2023

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

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