News

Despite its diagnostic merits, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has its limits when it comes to certain patient populations, such as children* and adolescents as well as claustrophobic or obese** patients. In order to overcome these limitations, South Jersey Radiology Associates, NJ, USA, invested in two Siemens MRI systems with an open bore of 70 centimeter – MAGNETOM® Espree and MAGNETOM Verio – for two of their locations east of Philadelphia. In 2005, MAGNETOM Espree (1.5 Tesla) replaced two conventional 1.5 Tesla systems. “It enabled us to capture patients we would not have been able to image with MRI before,” states William F. Muhr, MD, Director of Body Imaging at the private practice. In early 2008, MAGNETOM Verio (3 Tesla) followed at another branch. “Both fulfil similar roles in their locations, and of course, we try to route difficult-to-image patients to these sites.”

Faster Workflow

Muhr notes that not only do the Open Bore systems facilitate imaging of challenging patients; they also speed up workflow thanks to easier patient positioning and fewer image retakes due to anxiety-related movements. The latter is complemented with the Siemens-unique syngo® BLADE motion correction software. “We examine about 25 to 30 patients per system on a 15-hour working day,” Muhr states.

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High Resolution

As their second Open Bore system, South Jersey Radiology decided for the high-field MAGNETOM Verio (3 Tesla) since certain body areas are difficult to image with a 1.5 Tesla system. “We get really good image quality in abdominal exams for obese patients, and also in challenging exams of small structures like the wrist,” Muhr says. He adds, “Thanks to the 3 Tesla Open Bore technology, we can now examine patients we would not have been able to examine on a conventional system.” With its fast examination times – for example, for an orthopaedic exam 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes on a conventional Open Bore system – MAGNETOM Verio also won the hearts of the patients. “Ninety percent ask explicitly for the 3 Tesla Open Bore system upon their next exam.”