* Nowadays, medical technology is key to offer the patient the best diagnosis and treatment of diseases and, especially, those associated with cancer. At HC Marbella we bet strongly for it. Our Radiology Unit has some of the most accurate and complete technological equipment, such as 3 Teslas Magnetic Resonance.
Many times we hear about diagnostic tests without being clear about the differences between them. For example, between the 3-tesla magnetic resonance and the traditional one.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a procedure that uses radio waves and a powerful magnet attached to a computer to produce detailed images of areas inside the body. These images can show the difference between normal and abnormal tissue.
The difference between MRI and computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) is in the way of obtaining the images, since in the case of CT images are taken by means of an X-ray beam that makes a circular movement that surrounds the area that we want to investigate, that is, as if multiple radiographs were taken from multiple angles.
Tesla (T) is the unit of measurement of the power of any magnetic field. Before the appearance of the new 3T equipment, the standard was 1.5 T, which means that the magnetic field of these equipment is twice as powerful and 10-15 times more powerful than that of the open magnetic resonance equipment.
The 3-tesla MR imaging machine has a more powerful magnet and produces better images of organs and soft tissue than other types of MR procedures.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, we could say that this magnetic resonance is like an encyclopedia: the quality of the image that this equipment offers us is going to be used to diagnose alterations that affect fundamentally the brain, the spine, the prostate and articulations (skeletal muscle system), without forgetting that the increase in spatial resolution that it offers, will allow us to obtain images of high quality blood vessels and that will sometimes substitute invasive vascular studies using catheters.
The high image quality obtained allows radiologists to accurately differentiate benign from malignant lesions with much greater safety, which translates into an earlier and more accurate diagnosis. In this sense, this equipment improves, for example, the detection of primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as the ability to see the smallest tumors of the prostate.
From the care point of view, the patient gains in comfort, since it allows to obtain a quality of image at high resolution, in a shorter time, up to 40% faster, reducing the waiting of the patients. And within the area of molecular radiology, it offers new possibilities in the early diagnosis of cancer.
In addition, the scanning protocols are adapted to each patient improving their comfort during the study.
Regarding the risks for the patient, there is no type of risk, except for certain people who can not perform this test, mainly patient with electrical or ferromagnetic devices whose function can be altered when subjected to an electromagnetic field (pacemaker, pumps infusion of medications, cochlear implants).
Sometimes to complete the study, it must be done with intravenous contrast that is inserted through the vein in the arm, which is very safe, except in patients with severe renal insufficiency, in which it should not be administered.
However, before undergoing the examination, our staff will conduct a thorough interrogation that leaves no doubt that the test can be performed.
* Although the future of the image diagnosis happens because this technology is widely implanted due to its scientific endorsement, the truth is that it is not yet available in all the Centers. At HC Marbella we already have this type of 3T MRI, to ensure a better and faster diagnosis while improving the patient’s experience.
Sources: Instituto Nacional del Cancer (NIC) / Siemens Healthcare.
November 13, 2018
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