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.

Signs of Alzheimer's evident on imaging up to 15 years prior to symptom onset in Down syndrome population
By identifying these structural changes prior to the onset of symptomatic neurodegeneration, providers may be able to initiate preventive therapies sooner.
Appeals court weighs in on radiology providers’ battle over state certificate-of-need law
A three-judge panel heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case pitting Virginia-based Chesapeake Diagnostic Imaging Centers against Sentara Advanced Imaging Solutions.
AI prediction reduces radiologists' prostate MRI-related workloads by 20%
With prostate MRI assessments now being utilized more frequently, experts suggest AI could offer a more sustainable approach to managing growing workloads.
AI-directed scan protocols cut back on unnecessary MRI sequences
Artificial intelligence could serve as an effective tool for determining which patients may need additional breast MRI sequences mid-protocol.
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.

Kansas City hospital offers ‘abbreviated MRI’ to screen for breast cancer

Abbreviated MRI—a new breast imaging modality at University of Kansas Health System—makes screening quicker and less painful, according to a report by local NBC affiliate KSHB-TV.

Physicist develops VR app to reduce children's fear, anxiety before MRI

Jonathan Ashmore is an MRI physicist with National Health Service, the United Kingdom’s public healthcare system. He doesn’t interact with patients too often, but with an office next door to radiology department, he heard the distress children experienced before, during and after an MRI exam.

Breast MRI proves helpful with inconclusive digital mammography, DBT results

Radiologists can feel confident turning to breast MRI in instances when digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) results are inconclusive, according to new research published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Biannual MRI outperforms annual mammography for high-risk breast cancer patients

Biannual MRI is more effective than annual mammography in detecting early breast cancer in young women who have a high genetic risk of the disease, according to new research published in Clinical Cancer Research.

New class of fractals could make for speedy whole-body MRI

An Australian researcher has said it could be possible to speed up full-body MRI by four times while controlling costs and maintaining quality—all thanks to the discovery of a new class of fractals. Shekhar Chandra, PhD, with the University of Queensland, believes “Chaotic Sensing,” an approach to sparse imaging using fractals, could help MRI machines to quickly identify necessary imaging information while discarding redundant data.

MRI helps build personalized 3D simulations of heart irregularities

Scientists hope personalized data from patients experiencing irregular heartbeats will help improve accuracy in heart ablation procedures. The 3D simulations of 21 patients allow physicians to locate arrhythmia by “poking” the simulated heart with small electrical signals in various locations.

Varying prostate MRI insurance coverage poses problems for patients, providers

According to new research in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, prostate MRI has various problems—including varying insurance coverage, a failure to recognize major clinical scenarios and a restrictive, inflexible clinical practices.

Physicians work to spread the word: MRI scans are generally safe for patients with pacemakers

While half a million of the U.K. population has pacemakers or defibrillators, a survey of England’s acute hospitals found that fewer than half would scan these cardiac patients using an MRI.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Signs of Alzheimer's evident on imaging up to 15 years prior to symptom onset in Down syndrome population

Appeals court weighs in on radiology providers’ battle over state certificate-of-need law

AI prediction reduces radiologists' prostate MRI-related workloads by 20%

AI-directed scan protocols cut back on unnecessary MRI sequences

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