Claustrophobia, meet arachnophobia
MRI can be daunting enough for claustrophobic patients. But now arachnophobia may be a good reason to fear entering the tube. Researchers have begun studying large eight-legged creatures with clinical MR systems (Magn Reson Imaging 2007;25:129-135).
MRI can be daunting enough for claustrophobic patients. But now arachnophobia may be a good reason to fear entering the tube. Researchers have begun studying large eight-legged creatures with clinical MR systems (Magn Reson Imaging 2007;25:129-135).
Investigators at Johannes Gutenberg University Hospital in Mainz, Germany, examined three tarantulas (Eurypelma californicum) on a whole-body 1.5T unit equipped with a finger coil. The arthropods, common inhabitants of the U.S. South-west, were cooled for safe handling, rather than anesthetized, and partially embedded in a foam mold.
Spin-echo sequences showed the shape, size, and position of the tarantulas' major organs. This information is difficult to acquire with invasive techniques. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI revealed the spider's complex circulation system.
Such good results make a dedicated high-field animal scanner unnecessary for spider MRI, the team concluded. So in departments where scanner time is split between clinic appointments and research, patients had perhaps better check under the couch before lying down.
Could Ultrafast MRI Enhance Detection of Malignant Foci for Breast Cancer?
April 10th 2025In a new study involving over 120 women, nearly two-thirds of whom had a family history of breast cancer, ultrafast MRI findings revealed a 5 percent increase in malignancy risk for each second increase in the difference between lesion and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) time to enhancement (TTE).
MRI Study Suggests Shape of White Matter Hyperintensities May Be Predictive of Cognitive Decline
April 7th 2025Emerging research demonstrated that cognitive declines in memory, executive function and processing speed domains were associated with irregular shape of periventricular/confluent white matter hyperintensities.
Can Abbreviated MRI Have an Impact in Rectal Cancer Staging?
April 4th 2025Abbreviated MRI demonstrated a 95.3 percent specificity for rectal cancer and provided strong agreement with the full MRI protocol for T staging and detection of extramural venous invasion, according to newly published research.
