Elmendorfs upgrades MRI

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Tech. Sgt. Annette Ferguson-Sims watches over a patient while the newly upgraded magnetic resonance imaging, more commonly known as MRI, scans the subject April 1, 2009. Ferguson-Sims, 3rd Medical Operations Squadron, uses the upgraded MRI to view much more detail in the photographs than before. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Brown)

Elmedorf upgrades MRI

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Tech. Sgt. Annette Ferguson-Sims moves the patient into the newly upgraded magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, April 1, 2009. Ferguson-Sims, 3rd Medical Operations Squadron, uses the upgraded MRI to view much more detail in the photographs than before. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Steffen)

Hospital upgrades MRI capabilities

Published March 30, 2009
By Master Sgt. John Williams
3rd Medical Operations Squadron

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The Air Force-Veterans Administration hospital here recently completed a $1.2 million upgrade to its magnetic resonance imaging capabilities.

MRIs can help clinicians evaluate patients who may have had a stroke, have cancer, or a variety of other medical problems. The upgraded MRI includes high definition software, which produces highly detailed pictures like those seen on an HD television.

"We're very proud of this new equipment, because we will have the opportunity to obtain superior images even in difficult cases, and that means better care for our patients," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Ray Bryant, 3rd medical Operations Squadron chief of radiology.

Another advantage of this upgrade is that some patients should experience shorter, more comfortable exams because the new software can adjust for patient movement, reducing the frequency of re-scans. The new equipment will also allow state-of-the-art imaging of breast lesions for Department of Defense and VA patients. This imaging can be used as a problem solving tool for breast lesions found on mammography or ultrasound, or for some patients who have had prior breast procedures.

The hospital also plans to begin performing breast MR and MR-guided breast biopsies, one of only two Air Force medical facilities able to perform this procedure.