Now Open in St. Petersburg — 2201 Central Ave, Suite 100, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 | 727-841-8212
Now Open: 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter
Excel Medical Imaging Announces New Advanced 3T Wide-Bore MRI Site in St. Petersburg
Excel Medical Imaging is proud to announce the opening of our new St. Petersburg site in partnership with Advanced Medical Imaging of Pinellas. This new location brings our trusted, physician-owned approach to advanced imaging to the heart of Pinellas County, expanding access to the latest high-field MRI technology for patients across Tampa Bay.
Our new St. Pete center is built around a state-of-the-art 3T (3 Tesla) wide-bore MRI, the next generation of high-field magnetic resonance imaging. With double the field strength of a standard 1.5T MRI and a wider, more open bore, this system delivers exceptional image clarity for personal injury evaluations, orthopedic and sports-injury imaging, research-based studies, cardiac MRI, advanced oncologic and prostate MRI, and whole-body MRI screening for early disease detection.
As a physician-owned and physician-led practice, our commitment has always been to patient-first care, transparent pricing, and the highest standard of diagnostic quality. The St. Petersburg 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter is a direct extension of that commitment — offering advanced imaging in a comfortable, patient-friendly environment, read by our team of board-certified subspecialty radiologists.
Beyond diagnostic imaging, our St. Pete site also supports MR-guided biopsies and image-guided procedures, allowing patients to receive both diagnosis and minimally-invasive treatment under one roof.
We are excited to serve the St. Petersburg community and surrounding areas with the same quality, integrity, and personalized care that have defined Excel Medical Imaging for years. Whether you are a referring physician, an established patient, or a self-referring individual seeking proactive health screening, we look forward to welcoming you to our new home in St. Pete.
Visit Our St. Petersburg Location
3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter
2201 Central Ave, Suite 100, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-841-8212
Offered Services
Our new St. Pete 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter offers a comprehensive range of advanced MRI services:
1.) Whole-body MRI screening — Comprehensive head-to-pelvis scanning for proactive early detection of cancer, vascular disease, and other conditions.
2.) Personal injury neuro and orthopedic evaluations — Detailed imaging of the brain, spine, joints, and soft tissues following accidents or trauma.
3.) Research-based imaging — Advanced protocols supporting clinical research and physician-directed investigative studies.
4.) Cardiac MRI — Detailed evaluation of cardiac structure, function, and tissue characterization.
5.) Advanced oncologic MRI including prostate MRI — High-resolution multi-parametric MRI for cancer detection, staging, and treatment monitoring.
6.) fMRI Brain — Functional MRI for pre-surgical brain mapping and advanced neurological evaluation.
7.) Patient self-referred MRI services — Direct-access imaging for patients seeking proactive health insights without a physician referral.
8.) MR-guided biopsies — COMING SOON
What Is a 3T MRI?
A 3 Tesla (3T) MRI is a high-field magnetic resonance imaging system that uses a magnet twice as strong as a standard 1.5T MRI. The increased magnetic field strength translates into sharper, more detailed images and, in many cases, faster scan times.
Our 3T system is also a wide-bore MRI, meaning the opening of the scanner is larger than a traditional MRI. This makes the exam more comfortable, especially for larger patients and for those who experience claustrophobia.
The combination of higher field strength and wide-bore design allows our radiologists to see smaller structures with greater clarity — which is especially important for imaging the brain, prostate, joints, breast, and small vascular structures.
What Can a 3T MRI Diagnose?
Our advanced 3T MRI is used to evaluate a wide range of conditions across nearly every part of the body. Common indications include:
Neurological conditions — stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, aneurysms, seizures, headaches, and other brain or spinal cord disorders.
Orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries — torn ligaments, cartilage damage, rotator cuff tears, meniscal tears, labral tears, and joint disorders.
Spine disorders — disc herniations, spinal stenosis, nerve impingement, and post-traumatic injuries.
Prostate cancer — multi-parametric prostate MRI for detection, staging, and active surveillance.
Breast imaging — supplemental screening and problem-solving for high-risk patients.
Cardiac disease — cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and tissue characterization.
Abdominal and pelvic conditions — liver, kidney, pancreatic, and gynecologic disorders.
Oncologic imaging — tumor detection, staging, and treatment response.
Vascular imaging — MR angiography of the brain, neck, abdomen, and extremities.
Whole-body screening — proactive early-detection imaging from head to pelvis.
How to Prepare for Your 3T MRI
Preparing for your MRI is simple, but a little planning ahead helps your visit go smoothly:
1.) Confirm your appointment and arrive early. Please plan to arrive 15–20 minutes before your scheduled appointment so we have time to complete check-in and any required paperwork.
2.) Bring your prescription, photo ID, and payment information. If you are self-referring, please be prepared to sign self-referral waivers at the front desk.
3.) Wear comfortable, metal-free clothing. Avoid clothing with metal zippers, buttons, snaps, or embedded wires. You may be asked to change into a gown.
4.) Leave metal items at home or in the lobby. Jewelry, watches, hairpins, hearing aids, and any removable metal must be removed before entering the scanner room.
5.) Review your medical and implant history. Please let us know in advance about any pacemakers, defibrillators, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, metal fragments, or other implanted devices so we can confirm MRI safety.
6.) Follow contrast and fasting instructions if applicable. If your exam requires IV contrast, our team will provide specific instructions about fasting, hydration, and recent lab work (such as kidney function) prior to your appointment.
What to Expect During Your 3T MRI
Here is what a typical visit to our 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter looks like:
1.) Check-in and screening. Our front desk team will verify your information and review your MRI safety screening form to confirm there are no contraindications to scanning.
2.) Changing and preparation. You may be asked to change into a gown, and we will provide a secure place to store your personal belongings during the exam.
3.) Positioning on the scanner. Our technologist will help you lie comfortably on the padded scanner table. Cushions, blankets, and headphones are available to maximize your comfort.
4.) During the scan. The MRI will produce a series of loud knocking and humming sounds — this is normal. You will be given hearing protection and will be able to communicate with the technologist at any time through a two-way intercom.
5.) Contrast administration (if needed). If your exam requires contrast, a small IV will be placed and gadolinium-based contrast will be administered partway through the scan to enhance specific tissues.
6.) After the scan. Most exams take between 20 and 60 minutes depending on the area being imaged. Once complete, you can resume normal activities right away, and a board-certified Excel radiologist will interpret your images and forward the report to your referring physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please remember to bring your prescription, photo identification, and payment if they have not already been submitted by your referring physician.
If you are self-referring without physician oversight, please be prepared to bring your photo ID and payment. You will be asked to sign self-referral waivers at the front desk. Please ask at the front desk if there is anything else needed for your specific exam.
Clothing: Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing without metal zippers, snaps, or embedded wires. You may be asked to change into a gown.
Metal items: Remove all jewelry, watches, hairpins, hearing aids, and any other removable metal before entering the scanner room.
Implants: Let our team know in advance if you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, aneurysm clip, cochlear implant, metal fragments, or any other implanted device so we can verify MRI compatibility.
Most 3T MRI exams take between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on the body part being imaged and whether contrast is used.
Single-region exams (such as a knee, brain, or lumbar spine MRI) typically take 20–40 minutes.
Multi-region or specialized exams (such as multi-parametric prostate MRI, cardiac MRI, or whole-body screening) may take 45–90 minutes.
Please plan to arrive 15–20 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in and MRI safety screening.
Yes — MRI is one of the safest imaging tests available, because it does not use ionizing radiation.
MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images, with no X-ray exposure to you or your tissues. This makes it especially well-suited for repeated or follow-up imaging.
Safety screening: Because of the strong magnetic field, certain implants and devices may not be MRI-compatible. Please tell our team about any pacemakers, defibrillators, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, neurostimulators, or metal fragments before your appointment so we can confirm safety.
Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please let us know so we can discuss whether MRI is appropriate at this time.
Our 3T scanner is a wide-bore MRI — designed to be more comfortable for larger patients and for those who experience claustrophobia.
The wider opening allows for greater headroom and a more open feel than traditional MRI scanners. For many exams, your head may not even need to be inside the bore.
If you are anxious about the scan, please talk with your referring physician beforehand — in some cases, a mild oral anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed. Our technologists are also experienced in helping anxious patients feel at ease, and you can communicate with them at any time during the scan via a two-way intercom.
Not every MRI requires contrast — it depends on what your physician is evaluating.
Contrast (gadolinium): When used, MRI contrast is a gadolinium-based agent given through a small IV. It helps highlight blood vessels, tumors, infections, and areas of inflammation.
Allergies: Gadolinium contrast is generally very well tolerated. Please let us know in advance if you have ever had a reaction to MRI contrast.
Labs: If you have a history of kidney disease, recent lab work (such as a GFR) may be required prior to receiving contrast. Our team will let you know if this applies to your exam.
A 3T MRI uses a magnet that is twice as strong as a standard 1.5T MRI, producing higher-resolution images.
The higher field strength of 3T allows our radiologists to see smaller structures — such as fine nerves, small lesions, cartilage detail, and prostate zones — with greater clarity than 1.5T systems.
In many cases, 3T also enables faster scan times and more advanced imaging techniques, including high-resolution multi-parametric prostate MRI, functional brain MRI (fMRI), and detailed cardiac evaluation. Combined with our wide-bore design, 3T offers both image quality and patient comfort.
Yes — Excel Medical Imaging offers patient self-referred MRI services at our St. Pete location.
If you do not have a physician order, you may schedule certain MRI exams directly with our team. You will be asked to sign self-referral waivers at the front desk and to bring a valid photo ID and payment.
Once your exam is complete, a board-certified Excel radiologist will interpret your images and provide a detailed report. We strongly encourage all self-referred patients to share their results with a primary care provider or specialist for follow-up.
Your MRI is interpreted by a board-certified, subspecialty-trained Excel radiologist, typically within 24–48 hours of your exam.
For referred patients: Your report and images are sent directly to your referring physician, who will review the results with you.
For self-referred patients: You will receive a copy of your report and access to your images. We strongly recommend reviewing your results with your primary care provider or a specialist.
If you have questions about your results or need help arranging follow-up care, please call our office at 727-841-8212 and our team will be happy to assist.
Why Choose Excel’s 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter?
At Excel, we are pleased to bring our advanced imaging services to St. Petersburg through our partnership with Advanced Medical Imaging of Pinellas. Our new 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter combines the latest high-field, wide-bore MRI technology with the patient-first, physician-led approach that has defined Excel from day one.
Unlike many imaging centers, Excel is physician-owned and physician-operated. Our radiologists are board-certified, subspecialty-trained, and personally invested in the quality of every study we perform. That means more accurate readings, faster turnaround, and direct access to the physicians interpreting your images.
Our St. Pete location specializes in advanced MRI applications, including whole-body screening MRI, multi-parametric prostate MRI, cardiac MRI, fMRI brain mapping, personal-injury neuro and orthopedic imaging, and research-based imaging. We also offer MR-guided biopsies and image-guided procedures (coming soon), allowing patients to receive both diagnosis and minimally-invasive treatment in one trusted location.
As always, Excel is committed to transparent pricing, accessible self-pay options, and a patient experience built around comfort, communication, and clinical excellence. Whether you are a referring physician, an established patient, or a self-referring individual, we are honored to be your partner in proactive health and advanced imaging here in St. Pete and throughout Tampa Bay.
To schedule an exam or learn more about our new 3T+ Whole Body MRI Macrocenter, please call 727-841-8212 or visit us at 2201 Central Ave, Suite 100, St. Petersburg, FL 33713.