MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a common medical imaging method that can yield crucial information regarding the structure and function of the brain. MRI finds application in numerous aspects of brain imaging. Some of the significant applications of MRI in brain imaging include:.
Diagnosis of brain disease: MRI plays a tremendously important role in the diagnosis of brain disease including tumors, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. It can provide excellent images of the brain allowing doctors to assess the site of the abnormality or extent of the disease in the brain.
Evaluation of brain function: MRI can also be used to evaluate how the brain is functioning by assessing various blood flow, oxygen consumption and other measures of metabolism to see if the brain is functioning to a normal level (or not). This is done with the technique of functional MRI (fMRI). This is often done by looking at brain activity while performing different actions or tasks, or in response to different stimuli.
Monitoring brain disease: MRI can be used to evaluate the changes that occur within the brain with brain diseases over time. This can help doctors make conclusions about what treatment to offer and when to change the treatment.
Planning for brain surgery: MRI is often used for planning brain surgery. MRI can produce high quality images to obtain high quality pictures of the brain and its structures. This is helpful for surgeons to determine how and where the surgery needs to be performed and to avoid injuring any critical brain structures.
People Also Ask
Q. What is a brain MRI?
Brain MRI is a non-invasive radiological examination that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create an image of the brain and its anatomical structures.
Q. Why do I need a brain MRI?
Doctors will use a brain MRI to help them decide or follow a diagnosis of a neurological problem such as a tumor, a stroke, an infection, or an unexplained symptom.
Q. What does a brain MRI diagnose?
Brain MRI can detect brain tumors, strokes, multiple sclerosis, aneurysms, infections and structural abnormalities.
Q. How does brain MRI work?
MRI uses magnets to align the hydrogen atoms in the human body and then uses radio waves to produce images of the brain.
Q.Is a brain MRI safe?
Yes, brain MRI is considered a safe procedure because it does not use ionizing radiation. Brain MRI is typically well tolerated by patients, however there are associated risks for patients with metal implants.
Q. What is the difference between MRI and CT for the brain?
MRI provides better detail of soft tissues without using radiation. CT is faster than MRI but it uses x-ray radiation.
Q. Can MRI show the brain working?
Yes, functional MRI can show the brain working by measuring variations in blood flow while completing a task.
Q. When is contrast needed in a brain MRI?
Contrast is needed when we want better detail in our images, for instance looking for tumors or tracking inflammation processes in the brain.
Q. Can MRI help surgeons plan brain surgery?
Yes, MRI helps surgeons locate important brain structures or abnormalities which helps surgeons plan for surgery.
Q. Are brain MRIs risky?
Risks from brain MRIs can include discomfort from the loud MRI scanner noises, claustrophobia, allergic reaction to contrast or contrast induced nephropathy (rare), and some patients are not eligible for MRI study if they have certain implanted devices.
