Does an open MRI have the same quality of image as a closed MRI?

Question

Are the details as clear on the film of an open MRI?

Answer 1

Most reasons why doc’s order one over the other Open MRI scanner over a Closed MRI scanner are related to claustrophobia, size and weight of the patient, since they have to fit through the narrow tube for about 30 minutes.   MRIs  basic principles of being able to obtain an image with high quality and resolution has to do with the MR systems field strength. The higher the field strength, the higher the signal the higher the resolution

Typical open systems over the last few years are low field or about 0.2 Tesla vs closed 1.0 to 1.5 Tesla.  Newer systems are in the range of  1.5 Tesla - 3.0 Tesla system 4 times better.   But, some of the newer open MRIs are improving resolution and I believe can even be better like GE’s high field open MRI’s as one example you can see some comparative scans for your self just google or go to americanradiology.com. is just one.   Bottom line?!  RESOLUTION.  And for price I don’t know but I think they are about the same.  Hearsay.  Good luck all God bless.

Answer 2

It's a great question, but largely dependent on the strength of the magnet.  At 1.5 Tesla, the images would be quite good, and it's also a matter of what pathology is being considered.  In short, closed magnets are, indeed, the gold standard, but open magnets can often answer questions sufficiently (within the bounds of the technique) well (in a lot of cases).

In claustrophobic patients, there simply is no choice.

ADDENDUM:  The bottom line in terms of interpretability of images is signal-to-noise ratio.  If an open system can ofter the same degree of diagnostic capability, then we'd all switch over to open systems.  The simple truth is that we can't.  Open systems in this day and age simply don't do the job that closed magnets do, neither have they been studied with the same degree of rigour as closed systems.