Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues within your body.
Most MRI machines are large, tube-shaped magnets. When you lie inside an MRI machine, the magnetic field temporarily aligns all the water molecules in your body. Radio waves cause these aligned particles to produce very faint signals, which are used to create cross-sectional MRI images — like slices in a loaf of bread.
The MRI machine can combine these slices to produce 3-D images that may be viewed from many different angles.
Our new MRI provides state-of-the-art technology and patient-comfort features including:
MRI is a noninvasive way for your doctor to examine your organs, tissues and skeletal system. It produces high-resolution images that help diagnose a variety of problems. MRI is the most sensitive imaging test of the brain and spinal cord. It's often performed to help diagnose:
|
|
An MRI that focuses on the heart or blood vessels can assess:
An MRI may be used to check for tumors or other abnormalities of the:
|
|
MRI may be used to help evaluate:
MRI may be used in addition to mammography to detect breast cancer, particularly in women who have dense breast tissue or who may be at high risk of the disease.
Before an MRI exam, eat normally and continue to take your usual medications, unless otherwise instructed. You will be asked to change into a gown and to remove:
|
|
The presence of metal in your body may be a safety hazard or affect a portion of the MRI image. Tell the technologist if you have any metal or electronic devices in your body, such as:
Also tell the technologist if you think you're pregnant, because the effects of magnetic fields on fetuses aren't well understood. Your doctor may recommend choosing an alternative exam or postponing the MRI.
For most individuals, there are no known harmful effects from exposure to the magnetic field or radio waves used in making MRI images.
