Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive and the most specific imaging tool available in veterinary medicine. This noninvasive imaging technology differentiates between various types of soft tissues — not just soft tissue and bone. It also allows medical imaging specialists to determine whether soft tissue is normal or if it’s something that has abnormal characteristics such as inflammatory tissue or cancer.

MRI units at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre

A new standing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit for equine patients is now available in the Dubé/Ryan Equine Performance Centre, and by 2013, the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre will be operating a new MRI unit for small animal patients in its pet radiation therapy centre. The MRI units are part of the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's Medical Imaging Department that provides expertise and technology for the hospital’s Small Animal Clinic and Large Animal Clinic.

MRI unit for small animal patients

The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre has purchased new MRI technology to replace its original MRI unit in the college's pet radiation therapy centre. Medical imaging specialists will use this MRI unit to:

• calculate radiation treatment sites, along with dosage sizes and frequency, for tumour types that respond to radiation. Clinicians can also use MRI scans to plan a single or multi-modality approach to removing a solid tumour.
• definitively diagnose some tumours and other conditions of the brain or the central nervous system. 

• diagnose neurological, spinal and intracranial diseases.

MRI unit for equine patients

Western Canadian horse owners and referring veterinarians now have access to a powerful diagnostic tool: a standing MRI unit in the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's expanded equine performance centre. The new system allows medical imaging teams to: 

• quickly produce high-quality clinical images of the equine foot, pastern, fetlock and carpus
• definitively diagnose conditions in both fore and hind suspensory ligaments
• detect soft tissue lesions in the equine foot or conditions such as navicular syndrome that involve tendons and ligaments
• diagnose certain forms of lameness up to and including the knee (carpus) and hock (tarsus).

Unlike other MRI systems, the WCVM's new standing MRI unit doesn't require patients to undergo general anesthesia: a horse is only sedated to ensure minimal movement and good image quality. Besides being more cost effective, the sedation option allows clinicians to avoid the small but significant risk of anesthetizing an equine patient.

• Download the Medical Imaging Standing MRI Referral Form (PDF 241 KB)

The standing MRI system is produced by Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, a company based in the United Kingdom. Hallmarq has supplied similar systems to a number of large equine medical centres in Europe and North America including the University of California (Davis) and Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, VA.

• Return to Medical Imaging
• Return to Specialized Services (Small Animal)
• Return to Specialized Services (Large Animal)
• Return to Specialized Services (Equine)