Tag Archives: MRI

It Pays to Shop Around for Health Care

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There is a wide variation in health care costs, whether it’s imaging, prescription costs or even routine care.

For example, an MRI scan of the lumbar spine (low back area) costs around $277 at our facility versus $767 at Bayhealth (that’s almost 3 times more!)

Take a look at Delaware’s ‘CostAware’ for more pricing information. You’ll be surprised at the differences (not unusual for hospital facilities to be 3 to 6 times more than outpatient centers!)

https://costaware.dhss.delaware.gov: It Pays to Shop Around for Health Care
https://dhin-hccd-portal.medicasoft.us/public/view?v=CostAwareImagingbyProviderOrganization_17283331733160%2FImagingbyProviderOrganization&embed=true

MRI shows ties between neck muscle function, common headaches

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Quantitative MRI reveals how muscles in the neck are involved in primary headaches, according to research presented November 29 at the 2023 RSNA annual meeting.

In his talk, Nico Sollmann, MD, PhD, from University Hospital Ulm and University Hospital Rechts der Isar in Germany presented findings suggesting that increased T2 values of the trapezius muscles could be an objective imaging biomarker for myofascial involvement in primary headache disorders.

Trapezius muscle segmentations show (A) segmentation masks of the bilateral trapezius muscles (red areas) in a 25-year-old female and (B) in a 24-year-old male. Images and caption courtesy of the RSNA.

https://www.auntminnie.com/resources/conference/rsna/2023/article/15658841/mri-shows-ties-between-neck-muscle-function-common-headaches

Specialized MRI reveals impact of soccer heading on brain

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The researchers wanted to study the association of soccer heading over two years with change in brain microstructure and cognitive performance in adult amateur players. They used DTI, an MRI technique that characterizes the microstructure of the brain by tracking the microscopic movement of water molecules through brain tissue.

In her talk, Molly Charney, MD, from New York-Presbyterian Hospital presented research showing that the normally sharp gray matter-white matter interface seen on imaging was blunted in proportion to high repetitive head impact exposure.

Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging, an MRI technique, to study the impact of soccer heading on the brain. This method tracks the microscopic movement of water molecules through brain tissue to characterize the brain’s microstructure. Image and caption courtesy of the RSNA.

https://www.auntminnie.com/resources/conference/rsna/2023/article/15658667/dtimri-reveals-impact-of-soccer-heading-on-brain

MRI reveals brain changes in people with long COVID

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MRI scans have revealed long-lasting microstructural brain changes in patients after COVID-19 infections, according to a study to be presented at RSNA 2023 meeting in Chicago.”

https://www.auntminnie.com/resources/conference/rsna/2023/article/15658603/mri-reveals-brain-changes-in-people-with-long-covid

Disease Modifying Therapy for Alzheimer’s

“The long-awaited era of disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease has finally arrived and will substantially impact how the disease is perceived and managed, although these new treatments will pose challenges for equitable access. The drugs closest to widespread clinical implementation are lecanemab and donanemab—intravenous monoclonal antibodies that remove β-amyloid plaques from the brain and can slow cognitive and functional decline.”

Donanemab appears to be the ‘easier’ choice. MMSE 20-28, Monthly Infusion (vs q2Wk), Stop when Amyloid PET is negative. Probably need to get APOE on these patients.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00274-0

Contact Dr. Varipapa’s office if you are interested in exploring this option.