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Finally, MRI for Those with Kidney Disease or Obesity
September 8, 2009

Titan Brings Better Images, Without the Contrast, the Noise, the Claustrophobia

When most patients learn that they need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they probably imagine their body sliding into a tube that is only inches from their nose. Then claustrophobia sets in.

If they have serious kidney disease, they might worry that the contrast injection they receive to make images more clear, could cause them to have a severe reaction called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF).

If they weigh more than 300 pounds, patients may not be able to find a MRI scanner capable of handling their size or providing images clear enough to aid in their diagnosis. If they are female, they may not find an effective method to diagnose breast cancer.

And even if the 45 minutes of noise is something they can get through with earplugs, wouldn’t less noise make for a better experience?

A new MRI system at Washington Hospital Center, called Titan Large MRI, can produce images as good as or better than contrast MRI in most cases, without the contrast and the noise of conventional scanners, and with the capacity to accommodate patients who weigh up to 550 pounds. Titan is also equipped with the largest breast coil technology available, so women with extra large or dense breasts, for whom mammography is not an option, are able to undergo evaluation for breast cancer. It is one of only five systems in the United States.

James S. Jelinek, MD, who heads the Hospital Center’s radiology program, said Titan is all about a safe and top quality patient experience. “There’s a growing body of evidence that links gadolinium-based contrast agents with NSF,” said Dr. Jelinek. “It stands to reason that if we can do the imaging without contrast, it is better for our patients. In
addition, Titan is not an open MRI, so the images are better, significantly better than most closed MRI systems,” said Dr. Jelinek.

Titan has the largest opening of any Full Field MRI system, easing the “closed in” feeling experienced by many patients. Unlike traditional MRI, Titan has “full field of view” imaging, making it possible to capture the full anatomy quickly in a single scan. Its new patented technology reduces the noise, produced as a routine part of the scan process, by 90 percent.

While Titan can be used for any type of imaging, it is particularly effective in evaluation of renal artery stenosis, aortic dissection, abdominal aorta aneurysm, the abdominal or peripheral vessels, and appendicitis in pregnant women.

Media Contact: Paula Faria
202 877-7594
paula.faria@medstar.net

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110 Irving Street, NW · Washington, DC 20010 · MedStar Washington Hospital Center · (202) 877-7000