EDITORIAL

Status of MR in
South Africa
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has developed from an experimental imaging modality in

the late seventies to an essential imaging investigation in radiology at the beginning of the
millennium. The first MR scanner was installed by the Medical Research Council in Cape Town in
1986. As part of the Winter School of the South African Association of Physicists in Medicin and
Biology, we sent out questionnaires to the main MR vendors in South Africa to determine the
current status of MR in this country. In the questionnaire we asked questions about the number,

type, field strength of scanners and their geographic distribution. We recorded the
number of patients scanned per week, the breakdown per anatomical region, and the

MBChB, FFRad(D)SA, FRCR, M Med(UCn manpower of radiologists, radiographers and physicists involved in MR.
We received replies from all five MR vendors. In June 2000 there were 56 MR scanners,
although this is likely to be increased to 60 by the end of 2000. Fifty-four are in the
private sector (96%) and two are in the public sector (Universitas and Wentworth

Hospitals). The number of MR scanners in public hospitals is likely to be increased by two to a total
of four by year-end. Most scanners are relatively new, with an average age of around three years. The
oldest, which is now 10 years old, is being replaced. There have been two trends in the MR market
in recent years: a trend towards open systems and a recent trend towards high field, high gradient
MR systems. There are 17 1.ST strength scanners (30%), many with strong gradients with fast slew
rates. There are II open 0.2T systems (20%), many in smaller cities and towns. Currently 24
scanners (43%) are in Gauteng, nine in the Cape Town area and four in Durban. The remaining 29
(52%) are evenly distributed in the smaller cities and towns throughout the country.
The patient workload varied from 15 to 60 patients per five-day week for each scanner. Anatomical
regions scanned in an average week were: spine 50%, brain 20%, musculoskeletal 20%, cardiac and
peripheral vessels 10%. It was difficult to assess how many radiologists and radiographers were
actively performing MR imaging as this information was not forthcoming. There are about 10-12
medical physicists interested in and involved with MR.
There are a number of encouraging features from this small survey. South Africa is well placed
internationally with almost 60 scanners working, many of which are relatively new technology. Many
practices have formed alliances with public/academic departments to provide public patient imaging
services and training of registrars and radiographers. The installed base is relatively new and many of
the high field systems are capable of performing advanced cardiac and neurovascular sequences like
cerebral diffusion and perfusion imaging for stroke investigations.
The future growth in MR will be in cardiac and peripheral vascular applications. Coronary MR
imaging is becoming a reality and the role of cardiology in MR imaging will have to be addressed by
the radiology society and speciality. Will MR go the same way as echocardiography? For radiologists
to protect their referral base, they will have to keep up-to-date with the recent advances in MR
technology and ultra fast imaging. This is no easy task considering the rapid advance of technology
with new developments in hardware and software sequences arriving on the market almost monthly.

Peter Corr

Head: Department of Radi%gy,
University of Nata/

Peter Corr

Editor

3 SAJOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY. Augus12000

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