By: Dr. Philip Chao

3T-MRI (3 Tesla “magnetic resonance imaging”) uses a stronger magnet. This results in better images. The “T” (for “Tesla”) tells you how strong an MRI’s magnet is. Because of the strength of our 3T scanner, we get better and sharper pictures in far less time than is possible with a weaker magnet. 3T-MRI is simply the best way to do MRI.

I would like to focus on some of the revolutionary new applications for MRI. A 3T MRI scanner is faster than a weaker magnet. So, a breast MRI is only 30 minutes instead of an hour. Our lumbar spine studies can be done in only 12 minutes—although we generally extend that by a few minutes to include our special 2.5mm thick contiguous scan (with fat sat). This special sequence does not miss any area (no “skip”) and, as a result, it can find every little herniation or ligament tear—even subtle facet disease. Our 3T scanner will give you the best scan you will ever have. We can do incredible prostate MRI exams without a coil at 3T. Even at the industry-standard, high field strength of 1.5T, one has to use special endorectal prostate coils to get the same pictures. We can do diffusion weighted images that can detect cancer early. We can do non-contrast MR angiography studies. On most scanners, this would require injecting up to double the dose of contrast! We can use ZERO contrast. None. Our scanner generates coronary MR angiograms without any dye injections. And while this amazing study does not always work on all patients, it takes very little additional time and has no side effects or risks known to be associated with contrast.

I really want to focus on the speed of 3T scanners because it really does make a huge difference. Claustrophobic patients are sometimes able to control their anxiety for the 12 minutes or so needed to scan a spine. For those who can’t, we are adding a new machine to our BEST MRI practice. Our OPEN BORE 1.5T high field MRI is the most advanced 1.5T scanner in the State of Delaware. While images from a 1.5T are not generally as detailed as those taken by a 3T scanner, this new scanner offers some comforts that the 3T scanner will never match. These include a 550 pound weight limit so we can offer the best MRI scans to larger patients. It also includes a special OPEN Bore magnet that is 70 cm in diameter, making it the most comfortable and widest scanner in the world. It simply is the BEST OPEN MRI around; hence the name of our other sister company – BEST OPEN MRI, LLC.

Let me give you some background on “OPEN” MRI. In the early 1990’s Japanese corporations developed software and permanent magnets at 0.3T (a far cry from 3.0T—or even 1.5T), and ingeniously marketed them as OPEN MRI units. There were openings in the sides of these machines, but, in truth, the space for the patient was narrower than the more powerful, super conducting, MRI units. Our OPEN BORE MRI is not this kind of OPEN MRI. Ours is the most spacious MRI currently available. And, unlike the OPEN MRI units, it has a high field 1.5T magnet. The simple truth is so-called OPEN MRI’s (which are narrow and confining despite smal openings on the sides) makes inferior pictures. The magnets, themselves, are narrower (45-49cm pole to pole) and take two or three times longer to generate fewer images that are so poor in quality that very important things can be missed! The OPEN BORE MRI from Siemens is a physician’s dream machine—particularly for any physician with claustrophobic patients! You scan a patient’s knee, HIP, lumbar or pelvis without having to put their head inside the magnet! (And in our facility, you’ll be able to watch the 52 inch TV screen we are having installed in the ceiling of the scan room!).

We want to provide the best MRI—for any patient. This includes the larger patient and the claustrophobic patient. If a patient can tolerate a 12 to 30 minute exam inside the better 3T scanner, we encourage them to do so. If not, the friendlier 1.5T OPEN BORE scanner is available. It takes a little longer, but the patient will be at ease. Generally speaking, 3T-MRI lets us see more clearly and the effectiveness of contrast is doubled. The less contrast you use, the safer. We use the safest Gadolinium contrast available. There are 5 types of contrast marketed in the U.S. The one we use is rated number 1 for safety and, at present, we are the only facility in Delaware using it. It is called Prohance.

If you do not have your scan at 3T, you will never know what might have been missed. Patients drive to our facility in Newark DE all the way from Lewes because we are the closest 3T-MRI machine. Educated doctors insist on 3T-MRI quality. If you are a larger patient or claustrophobic we want to offer the highest quality MRI for you as well. So please visit our websites to learn more about us: www.3t-mri.net or learn more about our OPEN BORE scanner at www.bestopenmri.net.

Dr. Philip Chao graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and was Scholar of the House. He continued his studies at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, receiving his medical degree in 1983. After a transitional internship year at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown NY, Dr. Chao did his residency in Radiology at Brooklyn’s SUNY Health Science Center (1984-1987), where he became Chief Resident. He stayed on to complete a fellowship in Neuroradiology (1987-1988). Dr. Chao has been interested in MRI technology since its very beginning—the first MRI scan took place in 1981 while he was pursuing his medical studies. The University of Pennsylvania, where Dr. Chao was both a Body MRI Fellow (1988-1990) and a Neuroradiology Fellow (1989-1990), was at the heart of the development of this technology and Dr. Chao was able to work with pioneers in MRI on the first GE Signa 1.5T (tesla) scanner. His advanced research and specializations complete, Dr. Chao left the University of Pennsylvania for a position as Director of MRI in Wilmington DE—a position he held for 14 years. Dr. Chao eventually left that position to create the best MRI center in Delaware, using the very latest technology: 3T MRI. While 3T (tesla) scanners have been used for scanning research patients since 2002, these advanced, more powerful MRI scanners only became available for clinical use in 2004. Dr. Chao worked hard to bring 3T technology to Delaware and in February 2007, MRI Consultants, LLC began operating the first 3T scanner in the State. 3T is the newest horizon for MRI.

For more information, contact MRI Consultants at 302.295.3367 or 302.295.0467.