“No other MRI system in the region has the necessary speed or technology to perform comprehensive cardiovascular examinations,” said Scott Mattson, DO, FACC, director of noninvasive imaging for The Heart Center Medical Group. “This generation of scanner has the potential to tell us more about the condition of the heart than numerous other tests combined.”
A joint venture involving Lutheran Hospital, The Heart Center Medical Group and Summit Radiology provides area residents access to one of the most advanced diagnostic tools to diagnose diseases of the heart.
The Intera Achieva 1.5T MRI from Philips Medical Systems uses advanced hardware and software packages for cardiac imaging which provides physicians a better-than-ever view of the human heart. Routine diagnostic tools, such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound and more advanced examples of nuclear medicine, including positron emission tomography (PET), effectively measure certain elements of heart health. Cardiac MRI technology goes even further, providing clearer, more detailed pictures that not only show the structure but also the function of a beating heart through video images. Another significant benefit is that unlike these examples of radiology and nuclear medicine, MRI eliminates the patient’s exposure to radiation.
Experts suggest that even with wholesale upgrades to a routine clinical MRI scanner, the images from that unit would still be inferior to the images from a unit built specifically to provide state-of-the-art cardiovascular diagnostic imaging like the one in use at the Lutheran campus.
Because of the level of detail it provides, the cardiac MRI makes it possible to diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions earlier. Earlier diagnosis leads to better treatment and better outcomes, which helps reduce overall health care costs.
“The cardiac MRI allows for a greater degree of accuracy and a faster diagnosis of cardiovascular disease,” said David Janizek, MD, Summit Radiology. “For most patients, this means they will be in and out of the suite quicker and their physician will know their results faster.”
Designed with both patients and physicians in mind, the environment is mindful of personal comfort, especially for those who suffer from claustrophobia, without compromising image quality and clinical performance. The joint venture cardiac MRI is located in MD Imaging at Lutheran Hospital.
