Health Imaging & IT - February 2008 - (Page 20)

modality update By Beth Walsh 3TMR Impresses with Resolution, Speed It’s not often that a technology drives clinicians to gush, using terms like “phenomenal,” “fantastic” and “exciting.” But 3T MR is doing just that. Greater resolution and faster patient throughput are helping the modality expand its applications and gain even more adoring fans. Since installing a Signa HDx 3T scanner from GE Healthcare in January 2007, Lloyd Stambaugh, MD, of Evergreen Radia in Kirkland, Wash., can now obtain additional information “that you just can’t get with CT. MR imaging is going to become even more of a routine form of imaging than it is now.” The practice is positioned in an area of Pugent Sound “where we were really hoping to attract subspecialty MR referrals, particularly for neurology, but also for musculoskeletal applications.” Adding 3T MRI puts the group in a position “to compete for growing subspecialty MRI.” Smooth operation Stambaugh says the installation went very well and the system was up and running right on schedule. “It took a little time for the radiologists to figure out how to optimize the MR protocols to take the best advantage of what the magnet can do.” But by the end of the summer, neurology, musculoskeletal and body imaging were in line. Two-thirds of the scans are neurology studies, while a third are a combination of body and musculoskeletal imaging. “To be honest, I wish I could scan all patients on 3T,” Stambaugh says. “The more I use it, the more I like it.” The images look better and he says he feels more confident with his diagnoses, whether he’s finding something abnormal or confirming a normal finding. The group has seen a 25 percent jump in MR volume over the past year. While some of that growth would have happened regardless of having 3T, “I think 3T has been responsible for a significant chunk of that growth,” he says. “We’ve probably attracted patients who we wouldn’t have attracted [without 3T].” The group has almost tripled its abdominal and pelvic MR scans for a total of 7,200, or almost 15 percent of its business. “That’s a much bigger chunk than a lot of centers. It’s exciting.” HealthImaging.com [ Siemens Magnetom Verio 3T MR scanner ] 20 Health Imaging & IT | February 2008 http://HealthImaging.com

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Health Imaging & IT - February 2008 Contents On the Web The Enterprise News Update Cover Story: Enterprise Image Management Makes the Grade Modality Update Special Section: Health IT: Image Management Special Section: Health IT: PCs on the Move Convention Spotlight Technology Outlook Technology Update Reader's Resource Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - February 2008

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