February 2011
Spire Murrayfield Hospital’s MRI department is celebrating scanning its 10,000th patient since opening in July 2007. Over this time a variety of world renowned sports stars, including Scottish Rugby players Chris Cutheter, David Blair and Max Evans, and premier league football players, have undergone the diagnostic procedure which produces detailed imaging of the body.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is used to detect abnormalities and damage of all body parts including musculoskeletal, neurological and abdominal/pelvic areas. MRI uses a strong magnetic field with radio waves and not radiation. As such, it can be the scanning modality of choice, especially for sports injuries that may involve follow-up scanning. MRI produces image 'slices' in different directions to give the Consultant Radiologist a complete overview of the body part scanned. A typical knee MRI, which takes 20 minutes, produces over 80 images at 3mm slice thickness while a liver scan can produce over 1000 images at 1mm slice thickness.
The 10,000th scan was carried out on Mr Euan McVicor from Edinburgh. He said: “I was surprised to hear that I was the 10,000 scan. It was completely painless and the staff made it all very straightforward.”
Wally Bourdelov, Hospital Director of Spire Murrayfield said: “We’re delighted to have been able to offer this service to so many people in such a short space of time. MRI scanning is invaluable in diagnostic medicine and the speed of patient treatment is vastly enhanced by its use.”
For more information on an MRI Scan appointment at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, please phone 0131 316 2593.