Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

MR Imaging Procedures and Diagnosis (MRI 130) is required as part of the MRI Technologist Certificate Program.  It is a prep course for taking the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists examination for certification in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.  Prerequisites:  MRI 101, MRI 102, MRI 111, MRI 112, MRI 121, MRI 122.

A.  Differentiate between normal and abnormal MR appearance of anatomy

                  imaged in cross sectional planes in all body systems.

B.   Understand the role of sequence parameters, surface coils and contrast agents in MR diagnosis.

C.   Understand the disease processes effectively imaged with MR

and the advanced imaging methods that are used to aid in diagnosis.

Identify and differentiate via drawings, images, and on-line study units the MR appearance of the normal and abnormal anatomy of the head, face, soft tissue neck, spine and spinal cord, musculoskeletal system, chest, breast, heart, abdomen, pelvis and the vascular system.  Disease processes and appropriate imaging planes for diagnosis and screening will be included.  Discussion to include fat suppression techniques, 3D and mutliplanar reformations, diffusion, perfusion, echo planar, spectroscopy and functional MR imaging.

A.        Complete on-line study units

B.        Complete classroom exercises and homework.

COURSE CONTENT:

The student will demonstrate understanding of the following themes, issues, concepts, and develop the following skills:

THEMES, CONCEPTS, ISSUES

Discussion for each body section to include the following:

Ø  • patient positioning and imaging planes

Ø  • pulse sequence parameters

Ø  • optimal image coil selection

Ø  • pathologic conditions demonstrated by MR

Ø  • use of contrast agents for diagnosis

Ø  • comparison to other imaging modalities

Ø  • pitfalls and other considerations

            A.  Brain and Face

1.  Routine Brain

2.  Trauma Brain

3.  Internal Auditory Canal

4.  Orbit

5.  Pituitary

6.  Paranasal Sinuses

7.  Cranial Nerves

8.  Vascular imaging

9.  Diffusion and Perfusion imaging

B.  Neck

1.  Soft tissue Neck

2.  Vascular Neck

            C.  Spine and Spinal Cord

1.  Cervical spine, cord  and neuro components

2.  Thoracic spine, cord and neuro components

3.  Lumbar spine and neuro components

4.  Sacrum/Coccyx and neuro components

5.  Spinal trauma

            D.  Musculoskeletal

1.    Shoulder

2.    Elbow

3.    Wrist, Hand

4.    Hip

5.    Knee

6.    Ankle

7.    Foot

8.    Long Bones

9.      Rotator cuff, triangular fibrocartilage

10.   Achilles tendon, plantar fascia

E.   Chest

1.    Brachial plexus

2.    Subclavian

3.    Heart

4.    Aorta

5.    Mediastinum

6.    Lymphatic

7.    Breast

F.    Abdomen

1.    Hepatobiliary

2.    Spleen

3.    Pancreas

4.    Kidney

5.    Aorta

G.   Pelvis

1.    Male Reproductive System

2.    Female Reproductive System

3.    Iliac and Femoral vasculature

4.    Bony Pelvis

H.   Specialty Imaging

I.      Future imaging

COMPETENCIES OR PROCESS SKILLS

A.   Demonstrate understanding of normal vs abnormal anatomy compared to T1 vs T2 imaging sequence choices.

B.   Describe the course of vascular anatomy in all systems

C.   Describe the use of fat suppression techniques in all systems

D.   Describe and identify ligament and cartilage anatomy in all systems

E.   Describe use and contraindications of contrast agents in all systems