MRI - The safest imaging technique
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by: Joe Ramirez
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Word Count: 550
MRI scans are mostly used to get clear images of spinal cord, brain, pelvis and abdomen. They are also very useful in the investigation of injuries relating to soft tissue, bones, and joints and in the study of growth or shrinking of a tumor in body tissue. As there is no need to get admitted or stay in the hospital, MRI scanners are commonly used in the Out Patient Departments.
During an MRI scan you may have to keep yourself comfortable and remain still to get clear images of your body parts. To avoid the noise made by the magnets in the MRI scanner you may have to wear headphone or earplug. As young children may feel nervous, they may be administered sedative or an anesthetic to keep them relaxed during the scan process.
You can immediately move out of the scanner once the procedure is complete and resume all your daily activities. However, in case you are administered a sedative, it is better to have a companion after the scan and also you should avoid operation of machinery, driving, drinking alcohol during the day as you will be on the influence of the sedative. You will be also advised by your doctor to drink more water during the day to flush out the contrast agent dye injected before the scan.
In the study of the brain, MRI is very useful to analyze blood flow in your brain and to find formation of any abnormal tissue in case of patients with multiple sclerosis. If you had a stroke, you can find out the damage to brain tissues due to lack of oxygen.
In case you had a heart attack, MRI scan is deployed to diagnose heart defects and study the thickness of muscles around heart. After a knee injury your doctor can examine your joints with the help of a MRI scan. With the facility of a MRI scan, a doctor can take firm decision on conducting surgery of injuries relating to ligaments, tendons, muscles, bone marrow and cartilage.
For your own safety, you may have to fill up a questionnaire and give all the relevant information about any metal that you may have inside your body. You will be allowed to take an MRI scan even in the cases of insertion of a metal body after a surgery on artificial joints like knee or hip replacements, dental fillings, bridges, surgical clips or staples and tubal ligation clips in case of female sterilization.
You will be asked to avoid an MRI scan only in the case of implants of heart pacemaker, pump, and nerve stimulators or cochlear as they may get damaged by the impact of magnetic field.
MRI scans are compatible to all except in a few cases where people have fitted IUD or contraceptive coil, artificial limbs attached within 6 weeks prior to the scan, surgery to control bleeding in brain, metallic fragments near blood vessels or eyes, brain aneurysm clips and artificial or prosthetic metal heart valves.
The Radiographer should be briefed if you have any of the above ailments. If you observe the guidelines properly, then MRI scan will be the safest imaging technique that can be employed to get rid of your illness.
About the Author
You can find various details and information on MRI and MRI scan at this website. Also, there is an extensive display of information on the cost of MRI scan which you can go through to prepare yourself financially before the scan.
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