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.

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Artificial intelligence could pinpoint success of rectal cancer treatment based on routine MRI

The Department of Defense is gifting Case Western researchers a grant to study the use of AI in determining whether patients require surgery. 

Goldberg MRI stroke brain

New CT protocol uses scout images to expedite stroke patients' path to MRI

The new safety screening protocol should "markedly improve" current delays in screening patients, Mayo Clinic doctors explained.

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Prenatal MRI reveals ‘major’ brain differences among unborn babies exposed to alcohol

About 9.8% of women confess to drinking alcohol during their pregnancy, a number that's likely much higher, experts said Wednesday.

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Radiology department utilizes Facebook algorithm to anticipate future CT, MRI volumes

The free tool just slightly overshot MRI volumes during the height of the pandemic, greatly outperforming manual estimates.

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HeartVista's one-click MRI software receives FDA clearance

AI-assisted scans are six times faster than standard CMRIs and require fewer breath-holds, company representatives said Wednesday.

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Monthly MRIs inform early treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma

Treatment plans changed for 45% of patients with metastatic melanoma after one of their follow-up scans, a new study showed.

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While promising, machine learning still misses 20% of cancers on breast MRIs, analysis shows

AI proved useful for detecting axillary lymph node metastases but isn’t yet ready for clinics, experts said recently.

Performing serial MRIs in young patients with hemophilia may spot early joint damage

Experts tracked patients managed across 11 treatment centers over the course of more than a decade for their findings.

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. 

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