Dear MRI Insider,
For folks living the bucolic life in rural or small-town America, addressing health issues has often meant a trek to the big city in search of the latest medical technology. But surprisingly, patients who need a state-of-the-art MR scan may be better off staying close to home.
In an analysis of the relationship between HMOs and MRI use, researchers from Stanford University found that HMOs with the largest market share tended to adopt MR, and subsequent advances in the modality, at a sluggish pace. In fact, low-market-share HMOs have done a much better job of keeping up with MR advances, including the use of contrast agents and specialized exams such as cardiac MR, according to the report. To learn more, click here.
In other clinical news, we're featuring a review article on 3D whole-body MR digital subtraction angiography for imaging the arterial network of the lower extremities. And be sure to check out our MR images of a cerebellar brain abscess caused by a tongue piercing.
Finally, we invite you to visit the MRI Digital Community for important business news. Curious as to how the MS-325 blood-pool contrast agent clinical trial is going? Click here. Wondering where the latest 3-tesla MR installation took place, or which system received CE Mark approval in Europe? Just visit our Industry News section.
