The diagnostic major, Elbit Diagnostics Ltd. has introduced the 1.5 Tesla MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which is being used at a private diagnostic centre for the first time in the State.

The new equipment with powerful hardware makes it the best non-invasive modality for evaluation of heart and blood vessels. The MRI can visualise the beating heart, detect areas of the heart, which are affected. Most of the heart problems can be diagnosed without the need of arterial puncture, caterisation and usage of iodinated contrast medium.

Most of the functioning and non-functioning parts of the body can also be visualised. The non-invasive follow-up study to monitor the efficacy of a drug or an interventional treatment can be done with ease, said Dr. M Radhesh, medical director, Elbit Diagnostics.

With reference to brain imaging, diffusion and perfusion sequences can differentiate healthy from pathologic portions of the brain, which may not be possible to detect with the routine imaging techniques and scanners. Imaging of the abdomen, which is the most difficult, has been overcome with the new technology. The image quality makes diagnosis of lesions easier and hidden lesions to become visible thus providing better diagnosis for patient management.

MR spectroscopy, which is available at Elbit, can be of great help to the referring clinician as it facilitates in differentiating various disease processes, which again is not possible on routine imaging.

The 3-dimensional volume imaging is done as a routine at Elbit. The advanced technology provides ultra-fast sequences and a routine brain test can be finished less than 10 minutes, informed Dr. Shiva Prasad, general manager, Elbit Diagnostics.

As one of the only diagnostic centres in Karnataka to provide complete digital diagnostic solutions and new technologies like the computerised radiography, bone, mineral densitometry, ultrasound and Doppler, Elbit has been a referral centre for many surgeons and physicians.

Elbit, which currently has one other centre in Hyderabad plans to start similar state-of-the-art diagnostic centres in all major cities in the county to provide affordable treatment, said MP Chari, chairman, Elbit Diagnostics.