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Jul 9, 2009 6:05 pm US/Eastern
3T MRI Giving Doctors Greater Detailed Images
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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The new 3 Tesla MRI is giving doctors another diagnostic weapon.
CBS
New advanced technology in magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is having a significant impact on the healthcare industry. There is one particular MRI creating better images for the doctor and that means better care for patients.
"I meet a classification of women who are at a high risk for a predisposition to breast cancer. So every six months to a year I have a breast MRI," explained Dawn Annesty who regularly undergoes MRI's. But another medical condition had her asking for a very specific type of MRI.
"I had a muscular injury in my hip. I'm a runner and it was limiting what I could do. So I very specifically said I would prefer it be done at 3T," Annesty added.
"The 3 Tesla or 3T is the newest generation of MRI systems for clinical use," said diagnostic radiologist Dr. Michael Roberts with the Memorial Healthcare System. Roberts said the new technology can detect the smallest lesions because of its increased strength.
"It has twice the magnetic fields of a 1.5 Tesla machine and that extra magnetic power gives us more imaging information in a particular scan and we can use that imaging power to either give us a faster scan, a more detailed scan or a more clear scan," explained Roberts.
This type of imaging can be helpful in neurological cases to get a better look at the brain and spine as well as for muscular skeletal conditions.
"It's wonderful to have the 3T at our disposal, we can get more information on certain patients," Roberts admitted.
Another important factor is that Memorial is an accredited facility which means they have to meet high standards for image quality and the ability of their technicians.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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