UST Hospital Opens MRI Section

The University of Santo Tomas Hospital now has a new service, part of its division of radiological sciences, the section of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Inaugurated last August 15, the facility upholds the hospital's role as one of the country's leading tertiary hospitals.

    According to USTH medical director Dr. Tito Torralba, this newest facility would enable the hospital to provide the highest level of expertise in the performance and interpretation of MR examinations. It will also serve as a teaching and research ground for the radiological sciences.

    The MRI section is equipped with the state-of-the-art 1.5T Philips Intera MRI system. It produces images of the human body in the highest resolution possible without the use of harmful radiation and rays, using instead a magnetic field and radio waves to spot alterations, even subtle ones, in the anatomy or the body's pathology for early and accurate detection of disease conditions.

    Section head Dr. Benigno Santi says that the MRI is particularly useful in the diagnosis of stroke. With its diffusion weighted imaging, the limitation in the diffusion of water in the different brain tissues during the very early stages of stroke is readily detected, allowing for immediate intervention, which is very crucial in the treatment for brain attack.

    The MRI also serves as safer alternative to the angiogram. Dr. Santi says the MR-angiogram can come up with the same images as the conventional angiogram, which uses x-rays and catheter, without the risks of infection or thrombosis associated with an invasive procedure.

    The facility is manned by recognized consultant radiologists with subspecialties in body imaging, muscoloskeletal radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, and head and neck radiology. The MRI non-medical support team is composed of well-trained radiologic technologists, nursing and secretarial staff.