MRI Medical Imaging  

Medical Imaging Center of Southern California Our Services MRI Medical Imaging

Medical Imaging Center of Southern California

Radiology and Medical Imaging located in Santa Monica & Beverly Hills

ZeroRad Scan™ (Whole Body MRI)

This groundbreaking MRI was developed at Smart Heart and Health to detect disease throughout the body in asymptomatic patients. The ZeroRad™ Scan, as the name implies, is noninvasive, uses no radiation and requires no contrast. We pioneered this preventive health approach to keep you on the right track with your health. Our preventive health suite includes:

ZeroRad Scan™

  • Whole body composition
  • Brain Advanced Connectomic fMRI

Cardiac Imaging

  • CT calcium score
  • CT coronary angio
  • AI cardiac analysis (Clearly Cardiac Plus)

Virtual colonoscopy

  • Ultrasound Carotid (Stroke screening)
  • IMT internal muscle thickness

DEXA Bone Density

  • Body Mass Index

Women’s Preventive Imaging

  • Mammogram (Digital 3D)
  • Ultrasound (Breast and Ovaries)
  • Breast MRI

Men’s Preventive Imaging

  • Whole body composition for visceral fat and fatty liver
  • Prostate MRI

Brain Health

  • Screening for Alzheimer’s

 

What is MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows our radiologists to see into any part of the body painlessly, non-invasively, rapidly and without exposure to radiation. MRI provides a deeper view of the different tissues and organs of the body than Computed Tomography (CT) making it especially useful in the detection of neurological (brain), musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as oncologic (cancer) imaging.

Unlike CT, MRI uses no ionizing radiation, but rather utilizes magnetic fields to build up enough information to construct an image of the body. Certain studies may require a small amount of a contrast agent to be injected into an arm vein to highlight special areas and visualize abnormalities.

The 3T Open MRI at Medical Imaging Center utilizes the most advanced technology and provides the following benefits:

  • An extra-large open bore (70 cm) ensures more comfort and is able to handle patients weighing.
  • 400-450 pounds while maintaining excellent resolution.
  • Higher resolution images leading to more accurate diagnosis.
  • Faster scanning times mean you spend less time in the scanner.
  • Provides comprehensive image in all diseases and throughout the body.

 

What types of MRI studies are available?

Medical Imaging Center of Southern California offers several different MRI studies, including:

Looks at the brain to detect tumors, aneurysms, bleeding, nerve injury, and other problems, such as damage caused by a stroke. Can also detect problems relating to the eyes and optic nerves, and the ears and auditory nerves.

Type of Functional MRI's: Provocative fMRI for pre-surgical planning for brain tumors and resting state fMRI for neuropsychiatric disorders and evaluation for traumatic brain injury.

Single voxel or multi-voxel MR Spectroscopy for evaluation of brain tumors, brain degenerative disease, and prostate cancer.

Looks at the blood vessels in the neck and the flow of blood through them without having to use a catheter. Can detect problems in the arteries, such as aneurysm and blocked vessels.

Looks at the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc bulges, and spinal tumors.

Cardiac, valves, aortic aneurysm, lungs, mediastinum, as well as Breast MRI which looks at the breast to evaluate for tumors, lymph nodes, status of breast implants, and cancers. Breast MRI is particularly important for patients with dense breasts, BRCA positive results, or family history.

Elastography, Pancreas/ Liver, Prostate, Spleen/ Kidney, MRCP, Colon/Volumin, Liver/ Eovist. Our pioneering Prostate MRI is essential in evaluating the relevance of an abnormal PSA (blood test for prostate cancer). It can also detect the early stages of prostate cancer before elevated PSA reveals itself on a blood test. Medical Imaging also provides image–guided biopsies once an abnormality in the prostate is discovered.

MRI of the bones and joints including shoulders, ankles, hips, and knees which look at arthritis, bone tumors, cartilage issues, torn ligaments or tendons, and infections. We also perform Contrast Anthrograms.

 

What should I expect during an MRI?

To get started, a trained technologist guides you on to the MRI table, positions you, and moves you into the tube. Most MRI exams take 20-45 minutes and you should expect to hold still for certain periods during the exam so the technologist can get an accurate image. You should also account for a fair bit of noise inside the machine thanks to magnetic fields, but you’ll be provided with earplugs, or you can listen to music or watch a DVD in the 3T MRI. You should also wear comfortable clothing without any metal zippers or buttons.

IMPORTANT: Please notify the technologist and front office if you have a pacemaker or other implanted device.

What if I’m claustrophobic?

If you need to have an MRI, but you’re claustrophobic or you have trouble lying still, Medical Imaging Center of Southern California offers oral, intravenous, and MAC sedation, which can help you relax during the MRI exam.

There is a special preparation for sedation:

  • For oral sedation, you should not eat or drink four hours prior to the examor intravenous and MAC sedation, you should not eat or drink six hours prior to the exam and you should arrive one hour prior to your scheduled exam time
  • For intravenous and MAC sedation, you should not eat or drink six hours prior to the exam and you should arrive one hour prior to your scheduled exam time.
  • For all types of sedation, you must have a driver to take you home after sedation. If you do not have a driver, the center can arrange one for you.

 

Please call us to learn more about MRI.

310-829-9788

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