| MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a scanning | | | | The computer converts these signals into |
| method developed primarily for use in medicine to | | | | cross-sectional images ("slices") of the part of the |
| provide doctors with the ability to view all sorts of | | | | body that has been scanned and reconstructs all the |
| body structures and organs including soft tissues. MRI | | | | images into a single three dimensional image |
| is arguably the greatest advance in diagnostic medical | | | | MRI is used for a variety of diagnostic purposes and |
| techniques over the past century. | | | | to rule out certain diseases |
| MRI is a diagnostic procedure that utilizes magnetic | | | | In general, MRI is used to: |
| and radio waves to produce detailed images of the | | | | Determine exactly what the problem is inside the body |
| body's structures (including soft tissues), without the | | | | and show its location |
| use of X-rays or other form of radiation. | | | | MRIs are frequently used to detect cancers that |
| How does MRI Scan work? | | | | would otherwise be difficult to diagnose, and can |
| A typical MRI Scan takes between 30 minutes and | | | | indicate the precise location and size of tumors. |
| one hour. To perform a MRI scan, the patient is | | | | MRI is frequently used in studying brain and spinal cord |
| securely positioned on a sliding imaging table within a | | | | abnormalities. |
| large MRI chamber. | | | | MRI Produces detailed images of the heart and major |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exploits the nuclear | | | | blood vessels that depict blood flow |
| magnetic alignments of different atoms inside a | | | | MRI Produces detailed images of joints and soft |
| magnetic field to generate images. An MRI machine | | | | tissues |
| consists of large magnets that generate magnetic | | | | Additional diseases that can be identified by MRI |
| fields around the target of analysis. These magnetic | | | | scanning include: lung disorders, digestive disorders, |
| fields cause paramagnetic atoms such as hydrogen, | | | | infections and inflammatory conditions, disorders of |
| gadolinium, and manganese to align themselves in a | | | | urinary tract and kidneys and more |
| magnetic dipole along the magnetic fields, created by | | | | It is generally believed that patients are not harmed by |
| the radiofrequency (RF) coils inside the MRI machine. | | | | undergoing the procedure since MRIs uses no radiation, |
| What the machine captures from the subject is the | | | | Instead, MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio |
| relaxation of the atoms as they return to their normal | | | | waves. There are not any side-effects, but some |
| alignment when the RF pulse is temporarily ceased. | | | | patients are not eligible for these scans. These include |
| With this data, a computer will generate an image of | | | | patients with heart pacemakers or other metallic |
| the subject based on the resonance characteristics of | | | | implanted medical devices. |
| different tissue types. | | | | |