RT Book, Section A1 KALYANPUR, TEJAS A1 HEDGIRE, SANDEEP A1 BORCZUK, RACHEL A1 IMANZADEH, AMIR A1 HARISINGHANI, MUKESH A2 Butler, Kathryn L. A2 Harisinghani, Mukesh SR Print(0) ID 1110747698 T1 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING: BASICS T2 Acute Care Surgery: Imaging Essentials for Rapid Diagnosis YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071831208 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1110747698 RD 2024/03/28 AB Imaging in an emergency setting demands assessment in the shortest possible time. While computed tomography (CT) scan has been the mainstay of cross-sectional imaging in emergency radiology for its rapid image acquisition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be useful in the emergency setting as well. MRI, with its inherent superior soft-tissue contrast, is highly sensitive for detection of abnormal fluid or edema, thus obviating the need for contrast agents. Lack of ionizing radiation makes it an obvious choice in the abdominal evaluation in pregnant women, and in the pediatric population. Gadolinium based contrast agents are safer than iodinated contrast agents used in CT.1,2 Furthermore, current refinements in MRI technology have resulted in shorter scanning times, which are particularly suited for emergency indications. MRI is therefore not only being increasingly used as a problem-solving tool, but also as a first-line modality. This chapter outlines the indications for MRI as well as the basic sequences and protocols used with an emphasis on the diagnostic approach to emergencies.