Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Opened in 2002, the Duke Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Center (DCMRC) was the first such facility in the nation devoted exclusively to cardiovascular MRI. The DCMRC is dedicated to determining the clinical situations in which cardiovascular MRI provides diagnostic information beyond that available with existing diagnostic techniques.

 

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the routine diagnosis of heart disease remains relatively uncommon, though MRI has been used in other clinical areas since the 1970s. This is partly because while most body organs do not move and therefore can be imaged "slowly," images of the heart must be acquired at a rate which is "fast" relative to the cardiac cycle.

 

Recent advances in MRI technology have reduced scan times to a few seconds. Combined with synchronization of the scanner hardware to the patient's ECG, these advances allow high-quality MRIs of the heart to be acquired.

 

Facilities include two state-of-the-art systems fully equipped for cardiovascular imaging:

 

Current research is aimed toward understanding:

 

 

Technical development includes development of new MRI pulse sequences and imaging protocols. Capabilities include:

 

Candidate pulse sequences and protocols are evaluated, and those whose clinical and/or research potential can be demonstrated are added to the library of active scan protocols.

• Aortic dissection and other aorta abnormalities

• Cardiac thrombus

• Cardiomyopathy

• Congenital defects
• Heart failure
  
• Ischemic evaluation
• Pericardial thickening, cysts, and mass
• Pericardial effusion
• Shunt
• Valvular conditions
• Vascular disease
• Viability assessment