Making the Correct Decision: When Do You Really Need an MRI Scan?

MRI scans are a modern scientific marvel, allowing physicians to obtain sharp and detailed images of the human body to help them make accurate diagnoses. Despite the widespread use of MRI scans for assessing injuries and the like, however, the fact of the matter is that MRI scans aren’t always necessary.

An MRI is generally safer than X-rays due to the absence of radiation, but it is still best to only get an MRI when absolutely necessary. The key here is knowing when undergoing an MRI scan would be most beneficial to avoid unnecessary expenses. Cases that will often require an MRI scan include:

Low Serotonin Levels Linked to Dementia, Discovered through MRI Scans

Forgetting where you put your keys or the name of a distant relative is one thing, but frequently forgetting what you did a few minutes ago is another. You must be suffering from some kind of dementia, a group of symptoms characterized by cognitive decline. Around 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia and most of them have Alzheimer’s disease.

Considered as the most prevalent type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the death of brain cells. Because dead brain cells cannot be revived, this disease is expected to get worse over time. While current treatments cannot prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, however, they can temporarily slow it down to improve the sufferer’s quality of life.

Perhaps the main reason why Alzheimer’s disease still doesn’t have a cure is that its causes are still unknown. Researchers are working hard to discover these causes and finally develop a cure. One factor they are looking at is the link between the disease and the brain’s serotonin levels. They found through MRI that people with Alzheimer’s disease have less of this chemical in their system.

MRI: Most Reliable Imaging Method in Assessing Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries often occur in people who perform overhead motions in either sports or in their jobs. Most of the time, degeneration or attrition of the rotator cuff is the underlying cause of these issues. Athletes like archers, tennis players, and baseball players have a greater risk of having a rotator cuff injury. The same is true with people whose jobs require repetitive overhead activities or heavy lifting over a long time. The risk of having this injury also increases with age, as rotator cuff tears are most common in individuals over the age of 40.

People with rotator cuff injury can experience pain that may be described as a dull, deep ache in the shoulder. Because of the injury, it becomes painful to lie on the affected shoulder, in effect, disturbing sleep. Arm weakness and difficulty reaching behind your back or combing your hair can also be experienced.

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.

New Research Suggests Men Can Forgo Prostate Biopsies through MRIs

Prostate biopsies come with several serious side effects, such as sepsis. Although there is only a small risk that a man will suffer from negative reactions, it’s a risk that can be entirely eliminated by not undergoing the biopsy. Men now have the option of receiving an MRI scan if it’s suspected that they may have prostate cancer.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam won’t always catch prostate cancer, but it can at least a considerable number of men from a prostate biopsy. Therefore, it’s recommended that all men first undergo an MRI if it’s suspected they have prostate cancer.

How MRIs Can Be Used to Improve the Accuracy of Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Many cases of brain cancer are misdiagnosed, which leads to incorrect treatments. Neurosurgeons from the UC San Diego Health System have discovered a way to increase the accuracy of brain cancer diagnoses. They combined MRI technology with non-invasive cellular mapping techniques for a more accurate way of diagnosing brain tumors and cancer.

This method is more accurate than old methods. It’s important to diagnose the type of brain cancer correctly because effective treatment methods are different. Continue reading to learn about how MRIs can now be used to improve the accuracy of brain cancer diagnosis.

Things Your Doctor Should Know Before You Take Contrast Agents for MRI

MRI uses substances known as contrast agents to detect any abnormalities inside the body. As their name suggests, contrast agents help distinguish selected body areas from their surrounding tissue, thereby improving the visibility of specific body parts. It is through this “contrast” that doctors and radiologists can differentiate between normal and abnormal conditions in the patient’s body.