What is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan?
This scan is performed with magnetism. A very large magnet aligns and realigns the molecules of the body and a computer then interprets the signals that are received and turns them into images. These images are really very clear and all the tissues in the body can be seen in great detail. As with CT scans, contrast can be used to give greater detail to blood vessels and also to indicate inflammation and cancer. Since this technology works with a large magnet, patients who have certain metal implants cannot undergo this test. When you undergo this test you will be placed in a machine that has a narrow tunnel and claustrophobic patients frequently need some form of sedation for this procedure. The machine makes quite a lot of metallic banging and clattering noises and you will usually be offered earphones to block out the noise and in some institutions soft music is piped through these. Several types of pictures are taken. The most frequently used images are T1-weighted and T2-weighted s
