GRC’S UNIQUE SCANNER — PERHAPS THE BEST IN THE WORLD

Guam Radiology Consultants is home to the Siemens Magnetom Espree MRI. Considered by many to be the overall best MRI in the world, it provides improved detail, faster imaging, a safer environment and the ability to accommodate larger patients. The advances in medical imaging that GRC brought to Guam with the Siemens Magnetom Espree have eliminated the need for patients to have repeated MRIs if they go off-island for treatment. The improved clarity and ability to transmit images digitally mean more accurate diagnoses and faster treatment.
 
Guam Radiology Consultants MRI scanner is the latest Siemens Espree unit.   It has a very wide bore – it is much wider than conventional MRI units.  This allows for a very comfortable exam and is a great bonus to claustrophobic and large patients.  As the scanner is also very short in length, its design is such that almost every patient with claustrophobia gets through a complete exam on the Espree without any problem.  At least 60% of examinations may be performed with the patient’s head outside of tube part of the MRI unit.  Even patients without claustrophobia like the Espree as many people still experience mild anxiety when scanned in a conventional smaller bore MRI unit.
 
The medical community has recently focused on using exams that do not use radiation when possible.   MRI is more and more frequently being used for children in particular to avoid any radiation exposure at all.  Guam Radiology is a certified “Image Gently” facility and we make every effort to decrease and eliminate the use of radiation when possible. The wide bore MRI scanner used at Guam Radiology Consultants has resulted in a much better experience for all patients – especially for our youngest patients.  Because of its unique design, a parent or other caring person can stand in the MRI room with a child having an MRI and can almost always hold his or her hand throughout the exam.  We encourage a tour of the MRI a few days before an exam for kids who might be scared secondary to not knowing what’s to come.
 
A wide bore MRI allows patients to be scanned comfortably and to lie still for the course of the examination.   This helps with the quality of the exam.  We also have an MP3 player and our patients can select the music of their choice.   Many patients find this helps them to stop thinking about the exam and relax during the exam.