MR Pathology for the Technologist

The ability to recognize the presence of pathology is a valuable skill for the MR technologist. While it is not within the scope of practice of technologists to read images, recognizing pathology allows the technologist to alert the radiologist while the patient is still in the MR suite. Protocols can then be modified during the study rather than recalling the patient for additional imaging. As a result, throughput and patient satisfaction are enhanced by tailoring studies to the needs of the patient. A recognition and understanding of pathology also provides the technologist with a better understanding of the objective of the study, a tool to optimize image quality to properly identify pathology, and an enhanced sense of contributing to the delivery of better healthcare to the patient. This insight will motivate efforts to improve the quality of the study.