Magnetic Appeal : MRI and the Myth of Transparency

210 Pages·2008·3.78 MB·English

by  Kelly A. Joyce

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MAGNETIC APPEAL
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Cornell University Press
Ithaca and London
Copyright © 2008 by Kelly A. Joyce
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts
thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from
the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512
East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850.
First published 2008 by Cornell University Press
First printing, Cornell Paperbacks, 2008
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Joyce, Kelly A. (Kelly Ann), 1966–
Magnetic appeal: MRI and the myth of transparency / Kelly A. Joyce.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8014-4489-0 (cloth : alk. paper)–
ISBN 978-0-8014-7456-9 (pbk. : paper)
1. Magnetic resonance imaging. 2. Magnetic resonance imaging–United
States. I. Title.
RC78.7.N83J69 2008
616.07'548–dc22 2007048070
Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and
materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials
include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally
chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit
our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu.
Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Paperback printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
1 MRI as Cultural Icon 1
2 Painting by Numbers: The Development of Magnetic
Resonance Imaging and the Visual Turn in Medicine 24
3 Seeing Is Believing: The Transformation of MRI
Examinations into Authoritative Knowledge 47
4 The Image Factory: Work Practices in MRI Units 77
5 The Political Economy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 109
6 A Sacred Technology? Theorizing Visual Knowledge
in the Twenty-first Century 149
Appendix: Research Methodology 167
References 173
Index 193
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Acknowledgments
M
any people contributed to this book. Of the many who shared
their time and ideas, I want to highlight the following.
I thank the physicians, technologists, and scientists who dis-
cussed their professional training, work practices, and perspec-
tives on medicine with me. Without their participation this book would
not exist. I also thank the data specialists who helped me along the way.
Researchers at the American College of Radiology, American Medical As-
sociation, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, General
Electric, Hitachi, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, and
Radiological Society of North America provided invaluable data for this
book.
My investigations of medical imaging technologies began at Boston
College. The faculty and students in the sociology department created an
open-minded, vibrant intellectual milieu. I especially thank Jeanne
Guillemin, Stephen Pfohl, Juliet Schor, Stefan Timmermans, and Diane
Vaughan for their careful reading and constructive feedback on my writ-
ing and for their support over the years.
As the book evolved, I benefited from the contributions of the editors and
staff at Cornell University Press. Peter Wissoker’s subtle humor and helpful
advice made the book writing process an enjoyable journey. I thank Ange
Romeo-Hall for superb editing and Susan Barnett for exceptional marketing
viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
and publicity. I appreciate the anonymous reviewers’ suggestions for the
manuscript. Their insightful criticisms made Magnetic Appeal a stronger
piece of analytical work.
Family and friends gave multiple forms of support for this project.
Donna Joyce, Edward Scanlon, Shirley Scanlon, Mari Sullivan, Jim Sulli-
van, and Kate Sullivan provided writing havens and good company. Alice
Joyce and Jack Joyce shared plant-, food-, and art-related adventures.
Christy Burns, Jane Geaney, Elaine Marolla, and Shashwat Pandhi joined
me for long urban hikes that helped clarify ideas and offered necessary
respites.
The following people commented on components of this book. For
this intellectual labor and gift, I thank Julia Garrett, Adria Goodson,
David Hogge, Laura Holliday, Kimberly Mann, Elaine Marolla, Shashwat
Pandhi, Celine Pascale, J. C. Poutsma, Timmons Roberts, Dee Royster, and
Kate Slevin. Iparticularly thank Laura Mamo, T. L. Taylor, and Keith Mc-
Gowan for dedicating time, energy, and good will to this project. Laura
shared her friendship, professional wisdom, and careful editorial eye.
T.L. listened to my ideas, offered sound advice, fielded emergency edits,
and helped in the quest for clarity. Keith read every page of the manu-
script at least once, talked through ideas, and offered enthusiasm and sup-
port throughout the writing process.
I thank the Schroeder Center for Healthcare Policy and the Office of the
Provost at the College of William and Mary for financial support, and the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Boston College for a University
Dissertation Fellowship. Parts of chapter 2 were published as “From Num-
bers to Pictures: The Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and
the Visual Turn in Medicine,” in Science as Culture(2006) 15(1): 1–22; and
an early version of chapter 3 was published as “Appealing Images: Mag-
netic Resonance Imaging and the Construction of Authoritative Knowl-
edge,” in Social Studies of Science(2005) 35(3): 437–462.
I dedicate this book to my mother, Donna Joyce. I learned the value of
steadfastness and style from her work ethic and keen imagination. Grow-
ing up reading her nursing books and magazines taught me to love and
enjoy science. Listening to her stories about medicine helped me under-
stand the human dimensions of health care.