The Three Common Reasons Why Your Doctor Would Recommend an MRI Scan

Your doctor may have told you to undergo imaging tests to better evaluate your symptoms or treatment. But if you’re not familiar with tests beyond the common X-ray, you might wonder why you’d need an MRI or a CT scan.

If your physician has told you to undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), there are usually three main reasons why.

Soft tissue needs to be studied

It’s no secret that MRI scans produce more detailed soft tissue scans compared to CT scans. While the latter uses X-ray beams to take images of the body’s organs, MRIs use nuanced radio frequency pulses and powerful magnets to take clearer images of internal structures – specifically, “soft” ones that are not like bones or teeth. Soft tissue includes tendons, ligaments, connective membranes, blood vessels, and nerves.

MRI As A Viable Approach to Diagnosing Certain Pituitary Diseases

The pituitary gland isn’t known as the “master gland” for nothing. As the control center of the endocrine system, this gland controls and regulates other endocrine glands in the body. It’s only crucial, then, to come up with the proper diagnosis for possible problems with the pituitary gland.

Conditions such as pituitary adenomas (or tumors) are characterized by symptoms like a gradual change in vision, weak muscles, and enlargement of the fingers, face, or forehead. Problems with the pituitary gland can quickly escalate into permanent vision loss and other symptoms associated with pituitary hormone deficiency or excess.

With MRI Scans, Prostate Cancer Patients Can Now Do Away With Biopsies

One in seven American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, based on the numbers culled by the American Cancer Society. Yet diagnosing this particular condition proves to be difficult. While biopsies are often recommended to fully establish the presence of prostate cancer, these often come with several setbacks. Biopsies are deemed poor in detecting the most aggressive cancer patients, which can be fatal for those suffering from severe cases.

Fortunately, medical experts have discovered the possibility of using MRI scans as a more effective tool in diagnosing prostate cancer.

Study Suggests HIV Can be Spotted in the Brain through MRI Scanning

According to a recent study, changes in the brain—as seen in  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans—could indicate that human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) continues to persist in the brain despite effective drug treatment. The study, conducted by scientists from the University College London and published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, reveals that patients can still have the immune system virus even when an existing treatment keeps the symptoms of the disease under control.

Scientists Can Measure Intelligence Through MRI Scans, Pave Way for AI

IQ tests have traditionally been used to gauge how smart a person is, though it has long been dismissed as inaccurate. You can’t make blind guesses when faced with multiple choice questions, after all. You can’t simplify the countless complex functions of the brain to just a number, either. Therefore, there must be a more accurate way to measure the intelligence of an individual.

Party Days are Over: MRI Seen as a Tool to Head Off Underage Drinking

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is the most widely used and abused substance among America’s youth, with two-thirds of 18-year-olds admitting to alcohol use. In fact, underage drinking is regarded as a serious public health problem nationwide, and its consequences are already having an effect in today’s society.

The campaign against underage drinking continues, with teenagers being lectured on the negative effects of alcohol consumption. Now, a recent study suggests that early intervention among possible heavy drinkers may be possible with the use of MRI.

Predicting Heavy Drinkers

The study, published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, applied an imaging-aided model to 137 participants aged 12 to 14, 97 percent of which have never tried alcohol. The researchers combined the use of multimodal neuroimaging data, particularly both structural and functional MRI, with neuropsychological testing and demographic info.

With these, the researchers were able to identify 34 neural factors that predict adolescent alcohol consumption. These predictors include demographic and behavioral factors (being male and dating early), along with structural factors as revealed through the MRI scans (such as thinner cortices and less brain activation). This list consequently allowed the researchers to achieve 74 percent accuracy at separating 70 participants who went on to become heavy drinkers by the age of 18.

Quantifying the Risk

Previous neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have suggested the possibility of quantifying the behavioral mechanisms of the risks for substance abuse. This study, however, found that neuroimaging yielded an increased predictive accuracy. When replicated and expanded, MRI scans can be of vital importance in predicting adolescent alcohol abuse and helping physicians conduct ways to prevent it.

Sources:

MRI may help head off underage drinking, Health Imaging

Researchers Identify Neural Factors That Predict Adolescent Alcohol Use, UC San Diego Health

Foods, Medications, and Other Considerations—Preparing for an MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic exam that relies on a strong magnetic field, radiofrequency energy, and a powerful computer to produce accurate and clear pictures of internal body structures. The non-invasive nature of an MRI has made it the procedure of choice for diagnosing a wide range of potential problems in various parts of the body, from the brain down to the tissues of one’s toes.

As with most major diagnostic procedures, however, there are a few considerations for you to remember before the day of your MRI. In fact, your doctor and MRI facilities have a screening process that ensures a smooth and problem-free scan. Other than checking for the presence of any metallic implants or objects in your body, they’ll also ask about your health history and whether or not you’re claustrophobic. The following are some common pre-MRI concerns that you ought to know about:

Which foods should you avoid so as not to affect the results of an MRI?

Take note that unless your doctor specifically instructs you not to eat or drink anything before the MRI, there are no food restrictions. There are times though, when patients are requested to go on fasting four hours prior. Food restrictions may be necessary for the MRI scan of the abdominal or pelvic area.

Which medication may counteract with the MRI scanning process?

The same as food, you may take your usual medications unless otherwise advised by your physician. There are generally no medications that can interfere with the MRI scanning process, but some medications that may alter your tissues or organ function, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, may have to be put on hold before the MRI.

What other preparatory activities must you undergo before an MRI?

To avoid any inconveniences at the MRI facility, avoid wearing any metallic jewelry, wear cotton clothing without metal clips or zippers, and bring a copy of your personal health record that contains a list of your current medications and, if applicable, your device implant card to help the doctor gauge the suitability of the procedure for the device you have.

Source:

MRI How You Prepare, Mayo Clinic

Outpatient MRIs: An Affordable Option in an Expensive Health Market

In California, a magnetic resonance imaging test, or MRI, can cost anywhere from $255 to $6,000. Either end of that price range can be tough to afford, depending on a patient’s income and insurance plan.

MRI vs. CT Scan: Is One Better than the Other?

You may have heard of both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (scans) as excellent methods of obtaining diagnostic images of the inside of your body. However, each method accomplishes their intended tasks in very different ways. Here’s how MRI and CT scans differ from each other:

MRI

As the name implies, MRI uses magnets and radio waves to produce a diagnostic image. Basically, magnets are used to line up all of the body’s protons in a certain manner, then radio waves are bounced off the protons to produce a signal that the MRI scanner can interpret into a 3D image. The upside to MRI is that it doesn’t make use of potentially harmful radiation to produce its images.

CT Scan

In contrast, CT scans make use of X-ray beams, which require a small dose of ionizing radiation. The CT scanner takes multiple 2D images of the part of the body being examined, then a computer combines these 2D images to create one 3D image to reveal the presence of disease or injury in the body. It’s worth noting that the radiation levels used in CT scans are considered safe for the human body.

Applications

In terms of speed, CT scans are generally faster to obtain than MRI scans—while MRI scans take an average of 30 – 45 minutes to complete depending on the body part scanned, CT scans can be done in less than five minutes. Each also has its general applications—MRI is often used to diagnose soft joints, ligaments, soft tissues and tendons, while CT scans lend more toward the diagnosis of fractures to the head, chest, spine, abdomen and pelvis.

It is ultimately up to your physician to decide which scanning method is more applicable to your current medical condition, but rest assured, each method can serve their purpose well as long as they are carried out by the most trusted providers in the field.

Sources:

What is the difference between a CT and a MRI?

http://www.woosterhospital.org

What’s the Difference Between a CT Scan and an MRI?

http://www.viaradiology.com