Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark installed its first MR system from GE HealthCare, the SIGNA™ HD 1.5T, in 2004. As the largest hospital in the North Denmark region, Aalborg University Hospital serves the area’s approximately 250,000 residents. Each year, the hospital’s 80 radiologists and 170 radiographers perform about 300,000 imaging exams across modalities (CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and interventional) and all types of anatomies for pediatric, adult and geriatric patients, as well as patients with complex medical conditions. Forty radiographers are dedicated to MR imaging.
To keep up with the region’s demand for MR imaging, the hospital upgraded to the SIGNA™ Explorer 1.5T through the SIGNA™ Explorer Lift program in 2018. In the fall of 2022, the facility further improved its imaging capabilities by upgrading to another GE HealthCare system, the SIGNA™ Artist Evo 1.5T with AIR™ Recon DL and AIR™ Coils. The SIGNA™ Artist Evo is the latest innovation from GE HealthCare that widens the bore on legacy 1.5T MR systems to 70 cm, all while improving system performance to be on par with a state-of-the-art premium MR system.Aalborg University Hospital now has six GE HealthCare MR systems, including the first SIGNA™ Artist Evo in the European Union.
The hospital stayed with GE HealthCare because the state-of-the-art magnet remains current with GE HealthCare’s SIGNA™ Continuum™ program, giving Aalborg the option to upgrade hardware, electronics and applications. Plus, they were impressed by the quality and homogeneity of the magnet.
“As a radiologist, I’m very satisfied with the homogeneity of this magnet. This can have a significant impact on the accuracy and clarity of the images produced, so the homogeneity and magnet quality is critical here,” says Idris Abdulrahman Abdullah Akreyi, MD, musculoskeletal radiologist at Aalborg University Hospital.
Figure 1.
Patient with foot pain and difficulty walking was referred for an MR exam. The 20ch AIR™ MP Coil Medium was used, providing a more comfortable exam for the patient because it better adapts to the anatomy and is lighter, putting less pressure on the patient’s painful joints/extremities. (A) Axial T2 FRFSE, 0.3 x 0.3 x 3.0 mm, 25 slices in 2:31 min.; (B) axial PD FatSat, 0.4 x 0.4 x 3.0 mm, 25 slices in 2:08 min.; (C) sagittal PD FatSat, 0.3 x 0.3 x 3.0 mm, 21 slices in 2:39 min.; (D) sagittal STIR, 0.4 x 0.4 x 3.0 mm, 21 slices in 2:56 min.; and (E) sagittal T1 FSE, 0.3 x 0.3 x 3.0 mm, 21 slices in 2:30 min.
Figure 2.
MRCP exam on a healthy volunteer using the 21ch AIR™ MP Coil Large and 40ch PA Coil. (A) Axial T2 SSFSE, 0.9 x 1.3 x 4 mm, 13 sec.; (B) coronal T2 SSFSE, 0.7 x 1.3 x 2.5 mm, 12 sec.; (C) LAVA Star, 1.1 x 1.1 x 4.4 mm, free-breathing acquisition in 3:04 min.; and (D) 3D MRCP, 0.9 x 0.9 x 1.4 mm, respiratory triggered in 2:30 min.
An easy upgrade
To manage the upgrade, the hospital rescheduled existing appointments and added scan slots on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. Having six GE HealthCare scanners that can handle all types of exams helped them stay flexible during the transition. “It’s not a big deal for our staff because they’re used to all the scanners, so that makes it easier,” says Louise Bach, MR radiographer at Aalborg University Hospital.
With the SIGNA™ Artist Evo, there are fewer constraints on imaging capabilities. “Now it’s possible for us to be a little more creative because we aren’t penalized if there’s not enough signal,” says Bach.
Overall, the SIGNA™ Artist Evo is helping Aalborg improve MR imaging across the board. “The SIGNA™ Artist Evo improves our diagnostic capabilities and increases efficiency while enhancing patient comfort and reducing cost,” says Dr. Akreyi.
This means Dr. Akreyi can make more confident diagnoses, which benefits clinicians and patients. “It means a lot for the patient’s outcome for me to be confident in my report. And the clinicians waiting for my conclusion will be also very satisfied,” he says.
Wide bore benefits
Now, with the wide-bore, the team at Aalborg can accommodate larger patients and provide a more comfortable exam for patients with all types of body habitus, as well as claustrophobic patients. “It’s less stressful to be in a wide bore than in a normal bore,” Bach says.
“The patient’s experience and improved patient comfort can reduce the need for sedation or other interventions, which can save a lot of time, cost and resources,” adds Dr. Akreyi.
When they do scan patients under anesthesia, the wide bore system Emakes it easier to accommodate the equipment needed for the procedure. “It’s really nice to have the wide bore for the tubing and equipment the patients need to have during the exam. It’s much easier to handle the anesthetized patient when there is more space around them during the exam. And it’s easier to watch the patients a bit more closely during the exam, such as seeing their chest move during respiration,” says Bach.
The freedom to image clearly
The SIGNA™ Artist Evo has prompted the hospital to consider updating their protocols to maximize the new technologies and deliver the best image quality with thinner slices and scan time reductions.
“We used to think we couldn’t go lower than maybe 3 or 4 millimeters in slice thickness, or it’s going to take so long that the patient will move during the sequence,” says Bach. “But that’s not the case anymore. We have to reconsider our protocols and get used to thinking we can acquire 2 millimeter slices and can scan with a much smaller field of view.”
