MR procedure growth slows

The number of MR procedures is continuing to grow, especially on the heels of the increasing popularity of MR angiography. Overall procedure growth, however, has begun to slow compared with previous years' performance, according to Arlington Medical Resources. An estimated 24.9 million MR procedures were performed in 2003 at more than 5700 U.S. hospitals and freestanding diagnostic imaging centers, the research company said. Brain studies were the most popular. In the 3.4 million MR exams performed with contrast, Magnevist was the agent most frequently used.