Magnetic resonance imaging is commonly referred to by the abbreviation MRI. An MRI scan is a noninvasive medical procedure used to detect a wide range of diseases and conditions. The MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio signals to create images of the human body. Typically, a radiologist will examine the images and report any abnormalities to the physician who ordered the MRI scan.
History
Research advances in physics eventually led to the use of MRIs as medical procedures. The first MRI scan on a human was done in 1977, and the test took more than 5 hours. The importance of MRI procedures to the medical field was acknowledged by the Nobel Prize Committee. In 2003, it awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine to Paul C. Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield for their work related to MRI technology.
Types
MRI procedures are sometimes classified as open or closed. A closed MRI surrounds the patient with a circular magnet. Some people feel claustrophobic in this type of MRI machine. The magnet on an open MRI machine does not completely wrap around the patient. This eliminates the issue of claustrophobia, but an open MRI procedure is not always an option. Some newer machines are a combination of open and closed technology. They use the stronger circular magnet but enclose it in a shorter tunnel.
Features
An MRI scan might take more than an hour, and the test requires that the patient remain still during the entire test. The machine is noisy, and the patient is usually given ear plugs to wear. For some MRI scans, the patient is first injected with a contrast dye. On rare occasions, this dye can cause allergic reactions.
Benefits
For most people, an MRI scan is a very safe medical procedure. The technology does not use the ionizing radiation that X-rays and CT (computed tomography) scans use. An MRI scan can be done on the brain, the breasts, the spinal cord, soft tissue and other vital organs. It can be used to look for disease or to evaluate injury. An MRI scan is considered a sensitive screening technique for detecting cancer, and it can help determine how far a cancer has spread.
Considerations
An MRI scan is an expensive medical procedure. It is so effective because it is highly sensitive. However, this degree of sensitivity can also generate false positives.
Warning
The MRI procedure involves a strong magnetic field. This magnetic field is potentially dangerous for people whose bodies contain metal. A person with a cardiac pacemaker should not have an MRI scan. A patient with another type of metallic implant, such as a brain aneurysm clip, may or may not be able to have an MRI scan. Anyone who might have metal fragments in their eyes (for example, welders and sheet metal workers) must be evaluated prior to receiving an MRI.
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