what does an mri show?
Head and Neck (Fig. 1) MRI gives very detailed pictures of the brain and spine. Air and hard bone do not give an MRI signal so these areas appear black. Bone marrow, spinal fluid, blood and soft tissues like the brain vary in intensity from black to white, depending on the amount of fat and water present in each tissue and the machine settings used for the scan. The radiologist compares the size and distributions of these bright and dark areas to determine whether a tissue is healthy. Body (Fig. 1) Nearly every part of the body may be studied with MRI. Organs within the chest and abdomen, such as the heart, liver, bladder and kidneys can easily be seen. The image at right gives a very detailed view of the abdominal vessels. Bones and joints (Fig. 1) MRI is very sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease or aging. Clear pictures often provide information not available through other medical testing and may actually eliminate the need for explorato
MRI gives very detailed pictures of the brain and spine. Air and hard bone do not give an MRI signal so these areas appear black. Bone marrow, spinal fluid, blood and soft tissues like brain vary in intensity from black to white, depending on the amount of fat and water present in each tissue and the machine settings used for the scan. The radiologist compares the size and distributions of these bright and dark ares to determine whether a tissue is healthy. Nearly every part of the body may be studied with MRI. Organs within the chest and abdomen, such as the heart, liver, bladder and kidneys can easily be seen. MRI is also very sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease or aging. Clear pictures often provide information not available through other medical testing and may actually eliminate the need for exploratory surgery. Compared to the standard MRI, we offer the latest in technology, the Short Bore MRI. This machine is similar to the standar
An MRI shows images that distinguish between healthy and unhealthy tissue. An MRI is used to examine soft tissues like organs, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in many parts of your body. This could be your brain, spinal column, breast, abdomen, pelvic area, or joints. How long does an MRI take? Most exams take between 30 to 45 minutes. You will be told exactly how long it will take when you schedule your appointment. What type of scanner is it? Our MRI is a GE Short Bore 1.5T HDx closed unit. What can I expect? You will be asked to lie down on a scanning table that slides into a large donut shaped ring. Once you are correctly positioned, the MRI tech will go to an adjoining room. The tech will be able to see you and you will be able to communicate through an intercom system. The technologist will tell you every time the table will move and how many minutes each portion of the scan will take. As the scan begins, you will hear a knocking sound from the machine that pauses and
