A Study on the Status of Installation and Utilization of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Korea

자기공명영상진단기(磁氣共鳴影像診斷機)(MRI)의 보유현황(保有現況) 및 이용실태(利用實態)에 관한 조사연구(調査硏究) -부산시내(釜山市內) 3개(個) 병원(病院)을 중심(中心)으로-

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) is one of the most expensive and sophisticated diagnostic tool and has been hailed as the most exciting event in medical imaging "since the introduction of X-rays", but a major disadvantage, high cost, is coming into focus especially in our country. To determine the status of distribution of MR imagers in Korea and to serve as a basic material for an efficient utilization of this Imaging machine, a retrospective survey of nationwide and regional(3 hospitals in Pusan) installations was performed. The results were as follows : 1. As of April 30, 1991, a total of 33 MRI units(24 for superconducting, 6 for permanent and 3 for resistive units) were set up and operated. 91% of the units were distributed in big cities with no one installation in 7 provinces among 12 provinces in our country. 85% of the units were imported. 2. Although 42.4% of the units were operated in Seoul, Taejeon had the best condition for the distribution of this imaging machine per population, hospital, and bed in Korea. 3. In Pusan : a) 5 units were operated with all superconducting magnet and medium magnetic field in type of machine. b) 80.1 % of the examinations were central nervous system(CNS). c) MRI examination occupied 1.4% of all radiographic examinations and the patients referred from other hospitals were composed of 23.4%% of all patients. 4. The average days under operating of MRI unit a week in Puasn were higher(5.5) than that of Seoul(4.5), but the average number of examinations and hours a week and a day, respectively(33, 8.4), was less than that of Seoul(57, 12.9). 5. The patients with positive MRI findings in a hospital(B) in Pusan was 74.5% on an average.