Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic imaging tool that has changed the way that doctors treat their patients. This is because it is a tool that provides a detailed image of the inner workings of the human body using very powerful magnets.
The magnets in an MRI machine align the nuclei of the atoms that make up the human body in such a way that they resonate when exposed to the variable magnetic field that is created by the MRI. This phenomenon is known as nuclear magnetic resonance and it is this resonance that creates the picture that doctors have come to rely on when it comes to making medical diagnoses as well as recommending treatments.
MRIs are incredibly versatile and have changed the way that doctors look at many complex illnesses including cerebrovascular incidents (strokes), spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other central nervous system conditions.
So, what makes MRI images so much better than other diagnostic imaging tools? In short, detail. MRI images are incredibly more detailed and show soft tissues in such as way that you can really see what’s happening inside the body. And, it is safer for the patient because there is no risk of ionizing radiation, which is common in other diagnostic imaging techniques.
How it works
The human body is 90% water. These water molecules have hydrogen nuclei that can be manipulated with the use of high powered magnetic fields.
In addition to the realignment of the water molecules’ nuclei, the MRI also emits a radio frequency that creates a “wave” in the magnetic field. This wave causes a variable application of the magnetic field that causes the nuclei to flip their normal spin, an effect that is easily reversed when the MRI is turned off. It is this flipped spin that the MRI uses to create the image of the tissues inside the body.
Because the hydrogen nuclei react differently in different tissues to the magnetic field and will return to their normal spins at different rates, the MRI can pick up on these variances to create a realistic picture of the different tissues inside the body. Contrast can be adjusted by the MRI operator to ensure the best picture possible.
Because MRIs don’t use ionizing radiation, they aren’t as harmful to patients like other types of diagnostic imaging. They are even safe to use on pregnant women because they do not cause harm to the developing fetus. However, it is important to know that the use of MRI isn’t risk free. MRIs use extremely strong magnets which can pose hazards to specific patients. For example, those with implanted pacemakers can experience adverse effects after being scanned. And, some patients complain of twitching after an MRI scan. This is because the peripheral nervous system can be stimulated by the resonating magnetic field. And lastly, many patients complain of feeling claustrophobic due to the enclosed space that they must lie in, in order to be scanned.
Future of MRI
Improvements are consistently being made to MRI in order to make it safer and even more effective in providing diagnostics to physicians for even more conditions. There are always new pulse sequences and new scanning techniques being developed to look at different body parts. MRI has changed the way doctors look at and treat the human body and is ever improving the quality of care that doctors can provide to their patients. Don’t be afraid to get a mri second opinion india.
MRIs have changed the way doctors treat many different conditions. Visit today to get a mri second opinion india. You’ll be glad you did.
