Category

MRI

Jun 03
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CMR031 Certificate V2 1 - European CMR Laboratory Accreditation for the Cardiac MRI Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital

European CMR Laboratory Accreditation for the Cardiac MRI Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital

By CARDIOLOGY, IN THE NEWS, MRI

CMR031 Certificate V2 1 1024x724 - European CMR Laboratory Accreditation for the Cardiac MRI Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital

We are pleased to announce that the Cardiac MRI Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital has been recently accredited by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), member of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

This is the first and only accredited Cardiac MRI Unit in Greece up to date, and one of the 21 accredited Cardiac MRI Units in Europe. This distinction comes as a recognition of the high-quality services that are provided at the Cardiac MRI Unit at Mediterraneo Hospital.

The MRI Cardiac Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital is one of the largest in Greece, with a total of approximately 700 studies annually, which cover the whole spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in a variable age spectrum of cardiological patients.

Our unit uses ultramodern technical equipment which consists of two state-of-the-art technology MRI scanners (Philips Ingenia 1.5T and 3T).

Our team consists of Radiologists with a vast experience in Cardiovascular Imaging, highly-trained dedicated Cardiac MRI radiographers, as well as a specialized nurse and paramedical staff, specifically trained in the preparation and handing of our patients.

Our chief Cardiologist is Dr. Maria Boutsikou MD,MSc,PhD, FESC, FSCMR, specialized in Cardiac MRI. Dr Boutsikou has been trained in Cardiac MRI Imaging of Adults and Children at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and is the only Cardiologist in Greece up to date to hold all three following higher Certifications:

  • Certification Level 3 in MRI Cardiac Imaging, by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging- EACVI) member of the European Society of Cardiology- ESC).
  • Certification Level 3 in MRI Cardiac for children and patients suffering from congenital heart disease, by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging- EACVI) member of the European Society of Cardiology- ESC).
  • Certification level 3 in MRI Cardiac imaging by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance- SCMR).

This exceptional distinction certifies the ability of the Unit to incorporate the international Guidelines in the process and diagnosis of the Cardiac MRI studies and therefore provide high quality services to our patients.

Moreover, it solidifies the ability of the Unit to support and conduct an extensive Educational Programme  on Cardiovascular imaging and expand our present research collaborations with acclaimed reference Centers across Europe and USA.

Jun 16
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alexandra nikita mediterraneo hospital - Breast MRI

Breast MRI

By IN THE NEWS, MBC, MRI

Dr. Alexandra Nikita, Consultant Breast Radiologist, Mediterraneo Hospital

Breast MRI is a high-resolution imaging test for the examination of breast structures and is performed in addition to a mammography and breast ultrasound. It is a short, completely painless and harmless diagnostic test, during which the examinee does not receive any radiation.

In which cases is breast MRI indicated?

Breast MRI does not replace a mammography or breast ultrasound but is a complementary tool used in the following cases:

  • Screening in women at high risk of developing breast cancer. This includes women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer (mother or sister who developed breast cancer before the age of 50, or more than one close relatives, including those on the examinee’s father side, with a history of breast or ovarian cancer),
  • Women with BRCA1 (Breast Cancer Type 1 susceptibility gene) and BRCA2 (Breast Cancer Type 2 susceptibility gene) mutations and women with a history of chest radiation therapy at the age of 10-30 years old. In any case, your radiologist or breast surgeon will review your family history and determine if a breast magnetic resonance imaging is appropriate for you.
  • To further investigate equivocal mammography findings. In rare cases, if a lesion detected on a mammogram cannot be adequately evaluated by MRI-guided localization, tomography, or ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging is used to determine whether or not a biopsy is necessary,
  • To accurately determine the extent of the lesion in specific types of diagnosed cancer and exclude the presence of other foci in the same or the other breast, especially in dense breasts and in cases of young women with breast cancer. Breast MRI also investigates the possible presence of abnormal axillary lymph nodes,
  • In cases of a previous breast cancer surgery to investigate possible recurrence or development of new foci in the same or the other breast (method of choice),
  • To evaluate the mastectomy area after cancer treatment. Surgery scars and recurrent cancer may present some similarities on a mammogram and breast ultrasound. If a change in the mastectomy scar is detected, either via mammography or physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging can show if it is scar tissue or cancer recurrence,
  • To assess the response of the tumor to chemotherapy in cases where preoperative chemotherapy is necessary (neoadjuvant chemotherapy),
  • For the evaluation of breast implants and the investigation of their rupture.

mri mediterraneo hospital - Breast MRI

How is a breast MRI performed?

The examination is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts about 30′. The examinee is  placed in a prone position on the specially designed MRI scanner.

The comfort of the examinee during the whole process is important, because in that way she can remain calm and immobile for as long as necessary in order to complete the examination successfully.
The use of an intravenous contrast media (IV contrast) is necessary to investigate possible malignancy, because without it the examination presents insufficient results. If, however, the breast MRI is performed only to evaluate the breast implants, IV contrast is not required except in cases where inflammation in the area of the implant is investigated.

What are the disadvantages of a breast MRI?

The method has two main disadvantages: The first is the high rate of “false-positive” results, i.e. when the MRI reveals pathological findings that prove to be benign formations or areas of active glandular tissue. This is proven by a negative biopsy. The second disadvantage is the inability of the method to detect breast microcalcifications, suspicious for onset malignancy.