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Fox Valley’s Most Advanced MRI Technology

 

3T MRI

Patients coming to Rush-Copley for routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans now have the most advanced MRI services designed for maximum patient comfort.  Rush-Copley is the first in the Fox Valley area to offer the most advanced imaging technology available with the new MAGNETOM® Verio 3T MRI scanner from Siemens. 

The 3T MRI boasts the strongest magnet field strength used clinically today and gives Rush-Copley physicians access to many applications, including neurology and functional neurology evaluation, orthopedic and cartilage assessment, and breast, vascular and cardiac imaging. The system’s large opening is wide enough to accommodate a diverse array of patients who have traditionally been difficult to scan such as children, the elderly or heavier patients.

Imaging

What is MRI?

MRI is a non-invasive test that uses a magnetic field, radio waves and advanced computer software to produce clear, detailed images of the structure and function of internal organs and tissues.  MRI gives doctors a window into the body unavailable with X-rays and other imaging technologies.

During an MRI, the patient lies still on a sliding table which is positioned inside the MRI. Imaging professionals are in an adjacent room but in constant contact via an intercom system. People with claustrophobia may need to obtain a sedative to help them relax. Most exams take 15 – 45 minutes, although highly detailed studies may take longer.

MRI is a critical diagnostic tool used to:

  • Determine extent of brain injury brought about by trauma or stroke
  • Locate internal bleeding
  • Assess damage of the head and neck
  • Evaluate the heart, aorta, coronary arteries and blood vessels
  • Determine the condition of the lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas and abdomen
  • Assess the spine after trauma or to diagnose chronic disease
  • Evaluate sports injuries.

Since a MRI does not involve radiation, it is also used to examine the reproductive system, pelvis, hips and bladder.

Functional MRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or fMRI, is a valuable diagnostic tool used to measure the brain’s activity.  Valuable in cases such as Deep Brain Stimulation, fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity – when a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand blood flow increases to the active area.  fMRI can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process.

MRI Breast Imaging

The American Medical Association recently suggested that women, who are known to have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, have an MRI of the breast over a traditional mammogram.  Breast MRI has been proven to be useful in:

  • evaluating a woman who has a palpable mass that isn't visible with ultrasound or mammography
  • assessing a lesion in the densely glandular breast of a young woman.
  • screening a young woman who is at high risk for cancer because of a significant family history of breast cancer or an abnormal breast cancer gene

Potential Risks

  • Women in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are advised not to have a MRI unless there is a strong medical need.
  • People with metal implants, pacemakers, will require additional screening in order to determine if MRI is the appropriate examination

Accreditation

Rush-Copley's MRI services are accredited by the American College of Radiology.  This accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety.

It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR practice guidelines and technical standards after a peer review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.