MR is one of the best diagnostic exams for imaging many types of soft-tissue including:
- the brain, vessels of the brain, eyes, inner ear
- the neck, shoulders, cervical spine and blood vessels of the neck
- the heart, aorta and coronary arteries
- the thoracic and lumbar spine
- the upper abdomen, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas and other abdominal vessels
- the pelvis and hips, male and female reproductive system, and bladder
- the musculoskeletal skeletal system including joints such as the shoulder, knee, wrist, ankles and feet
MR imaging and MR angiography are finding a greater role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, heart attack, acute stroke and vascular disease which can lead to stroke. Additionally, MR imaging is a vital part of diagnosing and treating sports injuries, and MR is finding an increasing role in diagnostic mammography. MR is a powerful tool for finding and diagnosing many forms of cancer.
What is MRI?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This test provides a means of obtaining images of various parts of your body without the use of x-rays (ionizing radiation). MR uses magnetic energy and radio waves to create cross-sectional images or "slices" of the human body. A specialized antenna transmits radiofrequency energy (RF) into the body and then receives the RF signals back. These returning signals are converted into pictures by a computer attached to the scanner. Pictures of almost any part of your body can be obtained at almost any angle. The main component of most MR systems is a large tube shaped or cylindrical magnet. Most of the cylindrical magnets have a strength between 0.5 and 1.5 Tesla and most of the Open or C-shaped magnets have a magnetic strength between 0.01 and 0.35 Tesla.
The Imaging Center of Las Cruces has both a 1.5 Tesla MR (system which has a magnetic field 30,000 times stronger than the pull of gravity on the earth's surface) and a .3 Tesla Open Magnet.
IS MRI safe?
MRI is safe in the majority of patients although certain patients may not be able to have an MRI. These include people who are extremely claustrophobic and those with implanted medical devices such as certain aneurysm clips in the brain, heart pacemakers, and cochlear (inner ear) implants. Also, those people with pieces of metal close to or in an important organ (such as the eye) may not be scanned. Please inform the technologist if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. There are a few additional safety considerations and some exceptions based on individual circumstances.
What will the MRI experience be like?
You will be asked to lie still on a table that will move your body into the center of the magnet. Prior to the table moving, you will be offered either earplugs to reduce the noise you hear or stereo headphones to listen to your favorite music. You will hear some "knocking" noises while the scanner is preparing for scanning and taking the pictures. You may also feel some vibration during the knocking noise and some slight movement of the table during the examination. Each total MR examination typically is comprised of a series of 2 to 6 sequences, with each sequence lasting between 2 and 15 minutes. An "MR sequence" is an acquisition of data that yields a specific image orientation and a specific type of image appearance or "contrast." Thus a typical exam can last for a total of ten minutes to an hour, depending on the type of exam being run and the MR system being used.
Some patients will be given an injection in a vein in their arm containing a substance that improves certain types of images. This substance, called gadolinium, is a very safe contrast agent and is unrelated to the iodine used for CT scans and kidney x-rays.
What are the uses and advantages of an MRI?
MRI scanners are good for looking at the non-bony party, or "soft tissues" of the body. In particular, the brain, spinal cord, and nerves are seen much more clearly with MRI than regular x-rays and CT scans. Also, MRI scans are commonly used to look at knees and shoulders following injury to assess the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Additionally, a MR scanner uses no x-rays or other radiation and is non-invasive.
MR is one of the best diagnostic exams for imaging many types of soft-tissue including:
the brain, vessels of the brain, eyes, inner ear
the neck, shoulders, cervical spine and blood vessels of the neck
the heart, aorta and coronary arteries
the thoracic and lumbar spine
the upper abdomen, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas and other abdominal vessels
the pelvis and hips, male and female reproductive system, and bladder
the musculoskeletal skeletal system including joints such as the shoulder, knee, wrist, ankles and feet
MR imaging and MR angiography are finding a greater role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, heart attack, acute stroke and vascular disease which can lead to stroke. Additionally, MR imaging is a vital part of diagnosing and treating sports injuries, and MR is finding an increasing role in diagnostic mammography. MR is a powerful tool for finding and diagnosing many forms of cancer.
