UAB Medicine’s cardiovascular MRI scanner recently was upgraded with the latest technology, and the team held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August to celebrate a top-to-bottom renovation of the suite housing the machine and its adjoining control room.
The upgrades enable providers to diagnose a wider range of conditions for several key specialties. This non-invasive test can reveal damage to specific areas of the heart, how effectively the heart’s chambers and valves are working, and how well blood is moving through them.
The need for this “gold standard” test continues to grow, and the UAB Medicine cardiovascular MRI team receives internal and external referrals from cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, rheumatology, pulmonology, and other specialties. Offering both 2D and 3D imaging, the scanner can help evaluate or identify:
- Cardiac function
- Heart attack damage
- Heart muscle disease
- Heart valve disorders
- Congenital heart issues
- Coronary heart disease
- Cancer and other masses
- Aneurysms
- Disorders of the aorta and other blood vessels
One of the only such scanners in the Birmingham area, UAB Medicine’s cardiovascular MRI machine was first installed in 1999 but has been extensively upgraded and overhauled. It now allows all current diagnostic imaging sequences, for both clinical and research purposes. With a 70 cm bore, it provides greater compatibility with all body shapes and sizes and is more comfortable for patients with claustrophobia.
Located in the Boshell Diabetes Building, the scanner is operated by the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease and the UAB Department of Radiology. The suite is staffed by experienced technologists Trina Corbitt, RT(R)(MR); Alen Hanvey, RT(R)(MR); T. Andrew Yarbrough, RT(R)(MR)(CT); and an expert team of cardiologists and radiologists.
“This upgraded instrument allows for the most comprehensive evaluations of patients with a host of cardiovascular conditions, in ways that today’s clinicians and researchers need,” said Steven G. Lloyd, M.D., Ph.D., section chief for cardiovascular MRI at UAB Medicine. “For example, it allows us to comprehensively evaluate conditions such as acute myocarditis – which became very important and prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic – using methods that have been accepted worldwide.”
“It also includes newer capabilities such as myocardial mapping, which may allow earlier detection of a multitude of diseases,” added Satinder P. Singh, M.D., clinical director of cardiac MRI services at UAB Medicine. “This is the only instrument at UAB capable of performing these types of scans, and it enables optimal evaluations of both inpatients and outpatients.”
Garima Arora, M.D., MRCP, FACC, FASE, co-director of cardiovascular MRI services at UAB Medicine, says the upgraded MRI scanner will significantly expand research opportunities, in addition to enhancing patient care. “It provides advanced imaging capabilities that enable clinicians and researchers to explore new diagnostic techniques and innovative treatments and interventions,” Dr. Arora said.
To contact the cardiovascular MRI team, refer a patient, or inquire about clinical or research needs, please call 205-934-9906.