Imaging in the fast lane: Challenges and opportunities for expanding access to MRI.
Authors
Affiliations (2)
Affiliations (2)
- From the Department of Radiology (S.B., S.Y.H.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology (S.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (F.Z.A.), Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Radiology (L.B.E., J.-P.J.Y.), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology (J.M.S.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Radiology (R.J.Y.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (J.W.A.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- From the Department of Radiology (S.B., S.Y.H.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology (S.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (F.Z.A.), Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Radiology (L.B.E., J.-P.J.Y.), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology (J.M.S.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Radiology (R.J.Y.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (J.W.A.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. [email protected].
Abstract
MRI technology has continuously advanced since its inception in the 1980s, yet access to MRI remains restricted due to its high cost and traditionally long acquisition times. This article reviews access-oriented strategies for expanding MRI availability in neuroradiology, focusing on (1) workflow efficiency enabled by accelerated and artificial intelligence-assisted imaging, (2) targeted MRI protocols designed to answer specific clinical questions, and (3) emerging low-field and portable MRI technologies for resource-constrained and point-of-care settings. We provide practical trade-offs, limitations, and use case-driven frameworks to inform real-world implementation. Examples of how these technologies are utilized in neuroradiology are provided along with perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. This article portrays current accessibility issues and paves the way toward an improved understanding of the opportunities and future of expanded MRI access.