Medical abbreviation:
MRI
Type:
Radiology
Definition:
Magnetic fields and computers help to generate three-dimensional internal images of the body. Patients lay flat in a long narrow tunnel while being scanned. Due to the use of strong magnetic fields, patients with metal prostheses are not permitted in the scanner.
When would I need this test?
MRI is particularly good at looking at non-bony tissue like muscle, blood vessels, nerves and cartilage. It is usually reserved for conditions which require detailed imaging, in particular it shows greater contrast between two different adjacent non bony tissues, for example muscle and ligament and in cancers.
Important
MRI scans are not advisable in patients with the following:
