Medical Images are images of internal body organs, tissues and thus an extremely powerful means to diagnose a disease or injury. There exist many imaging modalities such as Computer Tomography, X ray, Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Out of these, MRI is a technique extensively used and preferred by doctors for its ability to capture every possible body organ and tissue which otherwise could not be seen by any other imaging technique. The main advantage of MRI technique is it can acquire scans in different planes such as coronal, axial, sagittal without altering position of the object. This helps the medical practitioner to diagnose a disease or deformity with more accuracy. MR imaging has clinical advantage as it does not involve any invasion, surgery to patient. The next section elaborates significance of MRI for patient healthcare.
MRI and Patient Healthcare
Due to the unique ability to generate images of soft tissues, MR imaging is specially used for scanning body parts such as brain, spine, and joints. Neurosurgeons use this technique to identify swelling or bleeding in patient’s brain. MRI of head can detect brain tumors as well as brain aneurysms, strokes, etc. The MR image can identify abnormality of tissue which may occur due to multiple sclerosis. Thus, the disease can be treated in its early stages and help restore patient’s health. The orthopedic doctors use MR scans to analyse proper functioning of spinal cord and knee joints. The MR scans show important information about soft tissues, bones, glands and organs inside abdomen. The MR scans also help to inspect structure of heart, aorta or any other defects/tears that are present. MRI has a unique advantage of being painless and does not use any form of radiation.
There are no known dangers to MRI scan itself. The procedure can be repeated without problems. MR scans are not performed on pregnant woman for the risk to fetus. Patients with artificial valves in heart, metallic ear implants, bullet fragments, insulin pumps cannot undergo MRI procedure.
The next sections discuss different aspects of MRI such as its physics, the evolution of MRI systems, technical specifications of MR image and noise in MR image (Catherine W. 2008; E. Mohammed et al 2012; H.Yoshioka, H. Gudbjartsson et al 2008; K. Ineiewski,2009; IMAIOS: Medical websites and e-learning for healthcare professionals www.imaios.com/en, Xiaoping Hu, 2004).