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MRI Patient InformationWhat Is MRI And What Will I Experience?The purpose of MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is to diagnostically evaluate your brain or body. You will lie on a table, while the MR scanner produces images using a magnetic field and computers. Depending on the type of exam, intravenous medication called gadolinium may be injected. While starting the intravenous line is mildly painful in most cases, administration of the medication is usually painless and rarely ever associated with any adverse reaction.
Why Does It Matter Which Type Of MRI I Have? MRI scanning facilities vary greatly, with differences in the type of MR scanners and professionals. The multiple types of MR scanners includes: MRI, Older High Field MRI, Open Type MRI, and Low Field Extremity MRI. In general, MRI or older High Field strength MR scanners produce superior images in less time compared to Open or Low Field strength techniques. MRI is not only faster and technically superior, it is also comfortable. IN OUR ENTIRE MULTI-SITE PRACTICE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY ONE PATIENT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXAM IN ALL OF 1999. MRI refers to new High Field Strength scanners that are specifically designed for patient comfort due to the larger patient opening and shorter scanner design. In addition, some imaging methods such as MR angiography, detailed brain, body, spine, joint, breast, diffusion imaging, and MR spectroscopy may be impossible to perform or limited in quality on some Open or Low Field strength devices. If you instead choose an Open or Low Field MRI, you must recognize that the exam will take longer and the image quality will usually be lower compared to MRI or other High Field strength devices. This may or may not affect the ultimate diagnostic result and treatment. As a result, we believe that Open and other Low Field MRI devices should be reserved for only those patients with severe claustrophobia who are unwilling to take sedation medication, which is highly effective in allowing nearly all individuals to tolerate MRI or other comfort-designed High Field MR devices. MRI also offers you the important advantage of Radiology Medical Group physicians and staff, nationally recognized leaders in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Our physicians have been involved in clinical MRI since it was first introduced in the early 1980's. We co-authored the first textbooks in MRI of the Knee, MRI of the Wrist, and have participated in pioneering inventions related to spine imaging. We were one of the first in the world to introduce Magnetic Resonance Angiography, a non-invasive method of evaluating blood vessels. We operated the first filmless (completely computerized) magnetic resonance imaging center in the world.
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