Disadvantages of the open MRI ́s

Even with ever-improving techniques, the lower field strength of the magnetic field cannot compensate for the quality reduction to a closed MRI.

Costs of an open MRT ́s

In addition to imaging soft tissue and internal organs, open MRI is also used for diagnostic imaging of joints. In particular, the pelvis, shoulder and knee can be imaged in high resolution using open MRI. When using the closed tube, it can often be observed that motion artifacts appear on the images.

This is usually due to the fact that the position in which the shoulder or knee to be imaged must be held during the examination is very uncomfortable for the patient. When taking images of the shoulder or knee, an open MRI offers the advantage that the joint to be examined can be positioned gently. In this way, movement artifacts on the sectional images of the shoulder and knee can be reduced. A lower magnetic field strength is in contrast to the advantages that the image quality in an open system is usually worse than in a closed MRI.

Spinal columns in an open MRT

An open MRI of the spinal column provides superimposed-free, high-resolution sectional images that can be produced without radiation exposure. In addition, the MRI examination of the spine can be performed in a comfortable position. Only MRI, regardless of whether it is a closed tube or an open MRI, can image cartilage, ligament and spinal cord structures of the spine in sufficiently high quality and resolution.

When examining the spinal column in an open MRI, the patient is inserted into the device either lying on his stomach or on his back. The examination of the spinal column in open MRI usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Among the most common suspected diagnoses requiring the preparation of MRI sectional images of the spinal column are

Slipped disc
Malformations of the spine
Fractures of the spine
Inflammations
Tumors
Spondylolisthesis