Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems have transformed into one of the best imaging modalities for a variety of organs and structures with the development of open systems. These developments have allowed MRI to become a $3.5 billion industry worldwide, and a new study suggests that the market will continue to increase.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the appointment of Robert Kolodner, M.D., formerly the chief informatics officer at the Veterans Health Administration, as HHS’ interim national coordinator for health information technology.
Kolodner, who participated in the VA's VistA information technology system and in developing the VA’s electronic medical records system, will replace David Brailer, HHS’ first coordinator for health information technology.

Dr. Hadeer Shaikhly, formerly the chief of radiology at Windham Hospital in Connecticut, who recently opened an outpatient center for CT scans and MRIs in a local mall, encourages patients to drop in for an MRI or CT while they shop.
Shaikhly’s center provides night and weekend appointments and immediate review of the results. Plus, second reads by a certified outsourced service are free of charge.

The September 2006 issue of the journal Radiology reports that investigators have developed a new way to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to effectively gauge the hardness or elasticity of the liver. MR elastography (MRE), as the technique is called, holds great potential for detecting liver fibrosis, a common condition that can lead to incurable cirrhosis if not treated in time. MRE is an accurate and painless alternative to liver biopsy that may also have implications for diagnosing cancer.

A new imaging modality may be getting ready to join the ranks of X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI and nuclear imaging. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is similar to B-mode ultrasound and produces 2-D, cross-sectional, high-resolution images of tissue and microstructure using near infrared light, opposed to sound.