We have been the highest quality MRI studies in Delaware since February 2007. The only other 3T MRI scanners are at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and at John's Hopkins. We can pick up more lesions and have greater sensitivity to MRI contrast. This makes clearer sharper and better images for the patient. The best MRI is MRI done at 3T.
Breast MRI is improved at 3T. A recent study done at the University of Toledo showed that 3T MRI was 100% sensitive to detect breast cancer in a high risk population. Mammography was only 80% sensitive. And there patients in a high risk population need to have breast MRI screening. Ultrasound was also less effective. 3T BREAST MRI is better. Check our website www.3tbreastmri.com We have been promoting 3T breast MRI since 2007. No other provider in Delaware offers this.
MR Angiograms are particularly improved at 3T. They can be more detailed and can also be obtained in less scan time using parallel imaging. Basically if your MRI was not done at 3T you can miss subtle abnormalities. One common cause of headaches is superficial temporal arteritis. This disease prior to 3T MRI could only be diagnosed with a artery biopsy. At 3T we can diagnose this non invasively because of our higher resolution and sensitivity to contrast. It is one of the many advantages of scanning at 3T. For instance in our special MS protocol scans we scan with 1mm thick sagittal FLAIR images. In our knee protocol we scan with 2 mm thick contiguous images. In our cervical and lumbar spine protocols we have a special sequence which uses proton density fat saturation images 2mm thick contiguously and this helps us to detect smaller disc herniations. If you had a scan done at a lower strength than 3T and still are in pain you should consider having a scan at 3T.
This really helps MR angiography which always has been second cousin to xray angiography because of the reduced resolution. With 3T we really get beautiful MR angiograms which are still not as detailed as xray angiography but are getting closer to the resolution of xray angiography. Any improvement certainly adds to accuracy and pre-surgical planning. We also have a special pulse sequence called TRICKS which lets us get an angiogram with less critical timing issues and less contrast. This is helpful for evaluation of the arch and carotids. We do all of our MR angiograms with only a 10cc injection. This is 1/2 the dose used elsewhere is is far safer. We use only the safest contrast at 3T - which is Prohance We switched to this in August 2008. In January 2009 a nationwide conference suggested that all 3T facilities switch to this combination. We are always ahead of the curve!
I have always felt that super high quality MRI is necessary to serve as a roadmap for the surgeon. We can do 2mm thick T2W BRAINLAB protocol scans. This is useful for surgical image guided studies at any hospital which can use the DICOM (standard data) that our scanner produces. The added benefits that MRI does not use ionizing radiation is particularly important for children as xray dosage is cumulative. Recently the risk of getting cancer from your CT scan has been estimated as 1 in 1000 in adults and 1 in 550 in children. Always ask our doctor if a study not using xrays can provide similar information. Since many CT studies are actually multiple CT studies done at once some CT studies can increase your chance of cancer to 1 in 100.
Our facilities are all designed to ease the patients anxiety but we are also happy to be in a building with a full spa (SOLUTIONS SPA) on the third floor. We also offer free massage in a special chair in our waiting room prior to your exam to hopefully relax you for your study. We are one of the first 3T MRI facilities in the world to have these benefits for our patients. We want you to be happy before and after your MRI scan and we also offer the results immediately to our patients. This is one advantage no other facility can offer.
One particular benefit of 3T MRI is the direct visualization of Meniere's disease. Enhancement of the endolymphatic sac is seen in this disease but you really need excellent signal to noise and thin sub millimeter sections to see this disorder reliably. 3T MRI has the signal to noise and power to visualize this consistently. On lower strength magnets you can infer the diagnosis but you cannot see it reliably.
One of the really promising techniques is imaging of the lymph nodes at 3T with superparamagnetic iron particles to detect lymph nodes with cancer cell invasion. This is currently undergoing drug trials in the U.S. In Europe this study is done in the Netherlands but we hope to be able to offer this to our patients as soon as it is approved on this side of the pond. This contrast is called Combidex.
MR Neurography is improved at 3T. Using specialized STIR and fat saturation pulse sequences and very thin sections and small fields of view allows us to visualize the nerve roots of the brachial plexus, lumbosacral plexus and sciatic nerve. Whenever there is unexplained peripheral neuropathy a careful examination of the nerve itself can sometimes show evidence of pathological changes within the nerve or tumors within or encroaching upon the nerve. It is also useful in the post operative evaluation of nerve grafting procedures.
Musculoskeletal imaging is also improved at 3T. We can do real 1mm or sub millimeter sections and this is particularly helpful in small parts such as the wrist or ankle. The imaging sequences only take about 2 minutes each if we use a skip. CARTILAGE EVALUATION NEEDS 2MM OR LESS SECTION THICKNESS. And this helps us get motion free images in every part of the body. When we do elbow or wrist or foot studies the use of 2mm thick images is very helpful. It also is twice as fast at 3T so you only have to hold still for 2 minutes instead of 5 minutes at 1.5T. Imaging of fingers and toes is very much improved by these capabilities. On a 1.5T scanner you can get volume averaging artifacts which makes image interpretation more difficult.
MRCP (MR Cholangiopancreatography) is also improved by the increased signal to noise. The ability to do thinner sections also helps to see more subtle abnormalities.
Breast MRI done at 3T is improved because of the improved signal to noise. We can do thinner slices. The images have higher resolution at 3Twhich helps to evaluate he lesion margins and morphology. MR contrast is doubled at 3T so the injection of contrast becomes more sensitive for the detection of cancer. We are able to use less contrast which is safer for the patients. MR spectroscopy of cancer with studies before and after chemotherapy can establish within a few hours after treatment if the treatment will succeed. This is another breakthrough in MR which is rarely utilized.
To call to ask us questions our phone number is 302-295-3367
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