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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital uses the latest advance in MRI machines, the MAGNETOM® Verio, 3T large bore MRI Scanner. This machine is made by Siemens, and boasts the strongest magnetic field strength used clinically today, and is designed with maximum patient comfort in mind. The system’s large 70-cm opening is wide enough to accommodate individuals who have traditionally been hard to image, such as children, those who are obese, the elderly, and those who are claustrophobic. Since the system length is only 173 cm, the patient’s head can remain outside of the machine for examinations, except for examinations of the head itself. The ‘Whisper Mode’ and ‘Audio Comfort’ features reduce noise levels and alleviate anxiety in children and elderly patients. With less anxiety-related movement, the need for re-scans is minimized, and captured images are much sharper. The system can be used for orthopedics, neuro-imaging, oncology, vascular system, whole body scans, and other screening procedures such as a whole leg or arm, in a single run.
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Unlike X-rays and CT Scans, MRI does not use radiation. The magnetic field produced by an MRI forces certain atoms in your body to line up in a particular way. Radio waves are sent towards these atoms and bounce back, and a computer records the signal produced. Since different types of tissues send back different signals, the computer can analyze the signals and use them to render a detailed image of the internal organs.
Our state-of-the-art MRI equipment can provide the following services:
| Cardiac MRI (Heart) Scans- |
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Cardiac MRI Provides New 3-D images of the beating
heart. This non-invasive, radiation-free technique
is especially useful for evaluating such conditions
as coronary artery disease, heart failure and
congenital heart disease. Detailed information
on the heart's pumping and perfusion performance,
muscle contractility, blood flow velocity and
status of the proximal coronary arteries can be
obtained in a single examination, providing a
One-Stop-Shop service for cardiac patients. |
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| Brain MRI Scan- |
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Most radiologists agree that MRI is the best
diagnostic tool for evaluation of the Central
Nervous System (brain and spinal cord). In patients
suffering from stroke, Diffusion Weighted
Scan permits almost immediate visualization
of the part of the brain that is not getting adequate
blood flow, and allows faster treatment to prevent
permanent cell death. |
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| Spine MRI Scan- |
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Spine MRI provides detailed pictures of hard-to-view
areas of the spine, including the spinal canal,
bony segments, and soft tissue. It can pinpoint
problems and show up the exact location of tumors
in the spine, spinal cord, or disks. It is an
important diagnostic tool for patients suffering
from pain or numbness in the back or in the limbs. |
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| MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography)- |
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MRA provides a noninvasive method to study blood
vessels, such as the carotid, pulmonary, peripheral
and renal arteries and the aorta. The test minimizes
the needs of invasive procedures such as Conventional
Angiogram and avoids older radiological techniques
that require puncturing major vascular structures. |
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