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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Time in nature changes kids' brains on a structural level, imaging data show

New findings published in Biological Psychiatry provide insight into the connection between time spent outside and improvements in neurodevelopment.

Calcified carotid plaques more likely to rupture than previously believed

Calcified carotid plaques more likely to rupture than previously believed, MRI findings suggest

Ruptured plaques can lead to the formation of blood clots that significantly increase the risk of stroke.

FDA approves expanded use of Xenoview for lung imaging

FDA approves expanded use of 'powerful' lung imaging tool

The approval will make around 1 million more patients eligible to receive the specialized contrast, which enhances the evaluation of lung ventilation. 

Prenuvo MRI Sollis Health

Prenuvo reveals early findings from elective whole-body MRI clinical trial

The Redwood City, California-based radiology group has enrolled 1,011 “mostly asymptomatic” individuals who underwent whole-body MRIs as part of its “real world” Polaris study.
 

MRI may not be suitable for spontaneous deep ICH

Study challenges use of MRI in spontaneous deep intracerebral hemorrhage

Spontaneous ICH carries a heightened risk of mortality, making locating its origin in a timely manner critical to outcomes.

knee x-ray

Certain knee injections may cause osteoarthritis to progress more rapidly, new MRI data suggest

These new findings may lead to more “judicious use” of corticosteroids in pain management.  

Hospital for Special Surgery pediatric MRI

MSK team achieves 0% sedation rate for pediatric MRI

Almost 2,000 children underwent musculoskeletal MRI over an eight-year stretch at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and not a single one of them needed sedation to get through the exam.

John Simon, MD, CEO of SimonMed Imaging, said imaging had greatly advanced for noninvasive detection of disease and it may be time for imaging to play a greater role in annual physicals, and especially in executive physical exams.

Should more imaging be included in physicals?

John Simon, MD, CEO of SimonMed Imaging, says imaging has considerably advanced for noninvasive detection of disease and it may be time for it to play a greater role in annual physicals, especially in executive physical exams.