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.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI screening cuts cancer mortality rates in half for women with lesser-known gene mutations

Women with ATM, CHEK2 and PALB2 gene mutations would benefit from beginning MRI screenings earlier than previously recommended, experts reported in JAMA Oncology.

February 18, 2022

MRI-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer cuts treatment side effects in half

The team originally planned to enroll 300 men in the study, but the decisive results seen among the first 100 patients prompted them to cut enrollment in half.

February 15, 2022
coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine vaccination

Cardiac MRI scans offer new insight into COVID vaccine-related myocarditis

Vaccine-related myocarditis displayed less severe injury patterns than the heart inflammation caused by COVID infection, doctors explained in Radiology.

February 15, 2022

These 3 MRI features can help junior radiologists identify placental attachment disorders

When using three specific MRI features to identify placental attachment abnormalities, junior radiologists' detection accuracy increased significantly, experts recently explained in EJR.

February 14, 2022
prostate cancer PET/CT

Is PET/CT or multiparametric MRI best for detecting prostate cancer? New research offers guidance

A comparison of the detection rates for 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI in low, intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer was recently shared by experts in EJNMMI.

February 14, 2022
brain stethoscope

University awarded research grant to study Alzheimer's using specialized brain MRI

The $3.8 million grant spans five years and will focus on cerebrovascular abnormalities by using a specialized imaging technique, the university announced this week.

February 11, 2022
Brain MRI

Wearable MRI helmet makes brain scans quicker, quieter and crisper

The helmet is made from magnetic metamaterials and can cut brain scan times in half, researchers at Boston University recently explained.

February 11, 2022
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

'Highly significant' MRI findings link hyperthyroidism to structural brain abnormalities

“For decades, the patients in our group have testified that they don’t feel they’ve recovered, and we hope our study will provide further clues about what happens in the brain,” experts involved in the study said.

February 8, 2022

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

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