3T MRI

Keck Hospital of USC is particularly proud of its innovative program in high-field cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. While many cardiac centers use lower-field imaging devices, our hospital has invested in devices capable of high-field diagnostic studies. With this novel technology, the heart may be captured in three-dimensions with amazing clarity.

Our two new 3T MRI systems produce high-resolution images of the heart muscle, the structure of the heart (for congenital and valvular heart disease detection) and the coronary arteries. They also allow us to observe scarred heart muscle, blood flow through the muscle of the heart, and heart muscle metabolism to detect and study inadequate blood flow to the heart.

CMR additionally allows for clinical visualization of the peripheral and renal arterial systems as well as the carotid arteries. With CMR, conditions such as aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections may be detected at their earliest phases, and the presence and extent of pulmonary hypertension may be reliably determined.

How Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Works

A strong, steady magnetic field causes the protons in the body to "line up" and spin in the same direction. A radio frequency (RF) signal is beamed into the magnetic field. The signal makes the protons move out of alignment — similar to what happens to a spinning top when someone hits it. When the signal stops, the protons move back to their aligned position and release. A receiver coil measures the energy released by the disturbed protons. This energy is used by a computer to construct an image that appears on a computer screen. The screen image can then be recorded on film or magnetic tape to make a permanent copy.