Marketing and research consulting firm IMV Medical Information Division Inc. has released a report that estimates 24.2 million MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) procedures were performed in 2003 in the U.S., an increase of 10 percent over the 2002 total of 21.9 million. These organizations used fixed and mobile MRI systems, according to the report.
   
Further data revealed that an estimated 10.6 million of the procedures used contrast agents in 2003, comprising 44 percent of the total. Additionally, comparison to 2002 showed that the biggest areas of procedural increase were pelvic and abdominal, lower and upper extremities, cardiac and vascular and breast studies, IMV said.