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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Medical center cleared in lawsuit over injurious MRI scan

A California hospital is not liable for negligence or elder abuse, both of which were civilly charged by a man who sustained second-degree burns while undergoing an MRI scan.

October 19, 2022
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Psychiatry, neuroradiology researchers find imaging markers of inheritable depression

Children are at heightened risk of major clinical depression when at least one parent has a history of the disorder. New research shows depression markers appearing on structural and functional brain MRI ahead of symptoms in these “familial risk” offspring from infancy through early adulthood.

October 18, 2022
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Nearly 90 latent safety threats identified, addressed before 2 new imaging suites see first patient

When conducted inside imaging suites soon to open, simulation exercises can help identify potentially serious threats to patient safety that may not have been carefully considered when the spaces were designed.

October 12, 2022
Iodine contrast being loaded into a contrast injector in preparation for a cardiac CT scan at Duly Health and Care in Lisle, Illinois. The contrast shortage is causing some healthcare organizations to postpone exams and procedures and ration contrast supplies. Photo by Dave Fornell

‘Relatively new’ contrast vendor releases second generic agent

A global tech and pharma supplier that introduced a generic equivalent to GE Healthcare’s Visipaque during the height of the 2022 contrast shortage has begun offering a substitute for Guerbet’s Dotarem.

October 7, 2022
Female Medical Research Scientist Working with Brain Scans

FDA approves AI analysis of high-grade gliomas

An AI startup in the neuro-oncology space has received the government’s go-ahead to market software for analyzing certain fast-growing brain tumors on MRI.

October 6, 2022

FDA clears 2D image-reconstruction product for 3D MRI

GE Healthcare may ship its deep learning-based image reconstruction software called AIR Recon DL with new 3D capabilities, the company announced Sept. 29.

September 30, 2022
Dementia Alzheimers

New amyloid buster significantly hinders Alzheimer’s advance

An experimental Alzheimer’s drug therapy has slowed cognitive and functional decline by 27% versus placebo in a double-blind, randomized study of 1,795 individuals with early signs and symptoms of the disease.

September 28, 2022

For monitoring purposes, AI-aided MRI does what liver biopsy does with less risk, lower cost

Patients with autoimmune hepatitis may be better monitored across disease stages by AI-augmented multiparametric MRI than by liver biopsy, as the imaging has proven less costly and is inherently less risky due to its noninvasiveness. 

September 28, 2022

Around the web

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

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

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

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