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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Bayer seeks FDA approval for gadoquatrane, its latest low-dose GBCA

The investigational agent uses 60% less gadolinium without sacrificing image quality, according to recent clinical trial findings.

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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. 

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.
 

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.
 

John Simon, MD, CEO of SimonMed Imaging, one of the largest U.S. outpatient medical imaging providers and physician radiology practices, is a big advocate for whole-body MRI screening, but there are some radiologists who are against this type of screening. He offered a comprehensive look at whole-body screenings.

SimonMed Imaging CEO discusses why his radiology practice offers elective whole-body MRIs

John Simon, MD, is a big advocate for these elective exams, but the American College of Radiology and some members of the specialty oppose this practice. 

Tariffs will cost Philips Healthcare up to $340M

U.S.-China tariffs will have a $226M to $340M net impact on its bottom line in 2025, even after substantial mitigation efforts, the imaging manufacturer estimates. 
 

Ezra

Whole-body MRI firm Ezra acquired by celebrity-backed longevity startup Function Health

Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal and Kevin Hart have invested in Function, which offers 100-plus lab tests to help its 200K members live "100 healthy years." 

Around the web

The new F-18 flurpiridaz radiotracer is expected to help drive cardiac PET growth, but it requires waiting between rest and stress scans. Software from MultiFunctional Imaging can help care teams combat that problem.

News of an incident is a stark reminder that healthcare workers and patients aren’t the only ones who need to be aware around MRI suites.

The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.