Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Cardiac MRI creates images from the resonance of hydrogen atoms when they are polarized to face in one direction and then hit with an electromagnetic pulse to knock them off axis. The wobbling of the atoms is what is recorded by computers and used to reconstruct the images. Cardiac MR allows very detailed visualization of the myocardial tissue above the resolution found with cardiac CT. Using different protocol sequences, various contrast type images can be created with MRI to enhance various tissues or to provide physiological data on the function of the heart. This section includes MR analysis software, MRI scanners, gadolinium contrast agents, and related magnetic resonance accessories.