Top-quality MRI studies can drive up costs for care

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 21, 2012

~~<p>Years ago, as a medical student at UCLA, I had the opportunity to perform research on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We studied the feasibility of visualizing the cornea of the eye. As technology advances, MRIs become more powerful but remain relatively safe. They utilize magnetic energy to measure water density of certain structures in the body. By contrast, CAT scans (CT) use radiation to measure mineral density, which, when overutilized, can increase cancer risk.</p>
<p>The most important factor in determining the potential image resolution of MRI is the Tesla (T) rating. The latest machines use a 3.0T rating. In Hawaii, state-of-the-art 3.0Ts are housed at InVision Imaging, Hawaii Advanced Imaging, Queen's, Tripler and Kaiser. Yeoh and Muranaka Radiology, a free-standing radiology company, recently purchased a new 3.0T MRI which has not, as yet, been put to work.</p>
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Years ago, as a medical student at UCLA, I had the opportunity to perform research on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We studied the feasibility of visualizing the cornea of the eye. As technology advances, MRIs become more powerful but remain relatively safe. They utilize magnetic energy to measure water density of certain structures in the body. By contrast, CAT scans (CT) use radiation to measure mineral density, which, when overutilized, can increase cancer risk.

The most important factor in determining the potential image resolution of MRI is the Tesla (T) rating. The latest machines use a 3.0T rating. In Hawaii, state-of-the-art 3.0Ts are housed at InVision Imaging, Hawaii Advanced Imaging, Queen's, Tripler and Kaiser. Yeoh and Muranaka Radiology, a free-standing radiology company, recently purchased a new 3.0T MRI which has not, as yet, been put to work. Login for more...