Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A 1.0 Tesla, in-house magnet is available for MRI studies through our imaging department. It is one of the most sophisticated imaging tools in modern medicine because of its ability to produce images that show finer details. It provides excellent differentiation between different types of soft tissues compared to radiographs and computed tomography (CT). MRI can be used to visualize the brain, spinal cord, eyes, nasal cavities, inner ears, abdominal organs, or other soft tissues and bone. A special kind of myelogram, called MR-myelogram, can be obtained without injecting any contrast material.

It offers good resolution and excellent contrast, while creating multilevel images in the same plane and allowing imaging in different planes. It is the most sensitive imaging study for early disease detection and cancer staging and is used to clarify abnormalities of uncertain significance detected by other imaging modalities.

The MRI images are constructed from signals emitted by the hydrogen protons of the subjects that are exposed to a magnetic field and radio wave. The MRI is then able to look at the chemistry of the different tissues. Diseased tissues react differently than normal tissue, and this difference in tissue response provides the base for MRI imaging. Different protocols can be used to amplify the signals of different tissues or pathologies. Because the acquisition of the images uses a different technology, high quality images in different planes can be obtained without the need of reconstruction.

The most common applications are:

Neurologic exams: brain and spine (including MR-myelogram)
Orthopedic exams
Ophthalmic exams
Exam to define soft tissue margins
Exam to delineate tumors
Angiography/vascular imaging (portogram)