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.

Alzheimer’s imaging experts to assess utility, efficiency of Hyperfine’s Swoop system
Is portable MRI suitable for finding abnormalities in the brains of patients receiving new amyloid-targeting therapy for Alzheimer’s disease? Clinical researchers are about to find out.
Private equity-backed radiology provider Rayus partners with AI startup to launch nationwide whole-body MRI offering
Ezra charges $950 to $2,500 for exams of healthy individuals and analyzes them with its FDA-cleared software to diagnose cancer and other conditions.
Medicare drops AUC requirement for advanced imaging, ASNC celebrates
"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.
University charts a world’s first with clinical use of new $9M 7T MRI system
The Siemens Magnetom scanner utilizes dedicated radiofrequency sodium coils and parallel transmit technology—a “stark” difference from older models
Deep learning-based MRI reconstruction software produces considerable cost savings
Oulu University Hospital believes AI will allow it to deliver the same level of service with one fewer scanner, enabling annual savings of over $436,000.

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

COVID in pregnant women manifests by variant in developing offspring: MRI study

Prenatal MRI is adept at revealing potentially damaging placental lesions affecting fetuses whose mothers were infected with COVID-19 while carrying.

January 31, 2023

Q4 and full-year 2022 results in for GE HealthCare

GE HealthCare has some favorable tailwinds at its back as it proceeds into its first year unattached to a certain venerable parent corporation.

January 31, 2023

Deep learning slashes real-world MRI scan times

Accelerated MRI with AI image reconstruction nearly halved orthopedic scan times while maintaining or even improving image quality in a newly published prospective study.

January 18, 2023

Safety information for patients taking Aduhelm has been updated by the FDA to include the addition of two MRI scans during the first year of treatment. #alzheimers #alzheimerstreatment

Biological ‘brain age’ could help pave the way for more personalized medicine

AI-powered analysis can now assess cognitive decline by noting gaps in chronological versus biological “brain age.”

January 9, 2023

Regulatory nod granted to inhalable gas contrast for hyperpolarized lung MRI

The FDA has cleared Polarean Imaging’s xenon gas-based MRI contrast agent for evaluating pulmonary function in patients aged 12 years and up.

January 3, 2023

Cross-organ imaging illuminates the heart-brain-liver axis

A population-level study featuring multi-organ MRI has confirmed that problems in any of three major organs—the heart, brain or liver—tend to co-occur with unfavorable findings in either or both of the other two.

December 21, 2022

Sean Fain, PhD, vice chair of radiology and research and a professor of radiology, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Imaging, University of Iowa, discusses how long-COVID lung damage can be tracked using xenon (Xe) gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative computed tomography (CT). He spoke to Health Imaging at RSNA 2022.

VIDEO: Tracking long-COVID lung damage using MRI and CT

Sean Fain, PhD, vice chair of radiology and research and a professor of radiology, University of Iowa, discusses how long-COVID lung damage can be tracked using xenon (Xe) gas MRI and quantitative CT at RSNA 2022.

December 16, 2022

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Medicare drops AUC requirement for advanced imaging, ASNC celebrates

"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology, radiology groups urge insurance provider to rethink imaging policy

SCAI and four other major healthcare organizations signed a joint letter in support of intravascular ultrasound.

Cardiovascular Business

Radiology AI company gains FDA clearance for new CT offerings focused on PE, stroke

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