Overview

This one and a half day course will review the development of technical protocols for performing body MRI for a variety of indications. A rationale for the selection of appropriate pulse sequences will be provided, including the specific details pertinent to the evaluation of conditions affecting the liver, pancreas, biliary tree, GI tract, GU tract, and breast. The pathologic conditions that are most effectively studied with MR imaging will be detailed. New applications that can currently be adapted to expand and extend a clinical practice will be emphasized throughout the session.

There will be two half-day sessions, on Saturday and Sunday, in addition to two 2-hour sessions, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course participants should be able to:
• Evaluate and recommend pulse sequence strategies that will optimize body MR imaging;
• Evaluate new pulse sequences based on existing knowledge of MRI techniques, allowing continuous improvement of body MRI protocols;
• Describe cost-effective indications for MR imaging throughout the body and understand the role of new contrast agents;
• Incorporate into their practices recent developments for MR imaging of the liver pre- and post therapy, MR imaging of the pancreas
  and biliary tree, including MR cholangiopancreatography;
• Describe the normal anatomy of the anorectal region and be able to describe the indications and imaging findings of common
  disease processes;
• List the indications of and describe techniques for performing MR enteroclysis;
• Implement optimal technique for evaluating structural and functional abnormalities of the kidneys;
• Implement and understand prostate MRI for cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment monitoring;
• Optimally evaluate common disease processes of the female pelvis with MR imaging;
• Describe and apply new MRI techniques for breast cancer; explain MR guided interventions in the breast.

Audience Description

This course is designed for:
• Physicians involved in supervising and interpreting clinical MRI;
• Specialists in body MRI who seek to incorporate new innovative applications to their practice;
• Users involved primarily with neurological or musculoskeletal applications who need to improve their understanding of
  body (breast, abdominal and pelvic) applications.