Breast, Thoracic, Abdominal, and Pelvic Positioning and Anatomical Landmarking in MRI

George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T. (R)(ARRT)®*

^*Medical Imaging Consultant, Germantown, NY

Address correspondence to: George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T. (R)(ARRT)^®*, Radiology Support Services, PO Box 215, Germantown, NY 12526. E-mail: radiologytechnique@gmail.com.

Disclosure Statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

Proper patient positioning is essential for all medical imaging modalities. It is not merely about safely placing a patient on an imaging table; it involves using a careful and strategic approach to ensure that the anatomical region of interest (ROI) is appropriately visualized and free from artifacts. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast, thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic regions, patient positioning is vital to obtain good quality images to make an accurate diagnosis; however, it is only one component out of many that are needed to achieve a successful and safely performed imaging study. Other key components include safety considerations, choosing the correct radiofrequency (RF) coil, and patient localization techniques aligned with using appropriate topographic anatomical landmarks in order to achieve accurate positioning. Even slight deviations from the correct position can result in distorted or blurry images, compromising the diagnostic integrity of the scan, image misinterpretation, inaccurate diagnoses, and treatment delays, all of which can affect patient outcomes. Poor positioning often necessitates repeat imaging, which not only increases healthcare costs, but also can cause the patient discomfort or pain, leading to increased anxiety, and an overall negative experience. The goal of this course is to address all of these issues for licensed technologists and those assisting with imaging responsibilities, both on-site and remotely.