1. What does MRI do for you and your medical
team?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one form of imaging modality
used by physicians to look inside the human body to obtain clinically
useful diagnostic information. Incorporating an advanced technology, MRI
produces images of the anatomy without the use of radiation
required with other imaging modalities such as X-ray and CT scanning.
MRI is a non-invasive procedure with no
known side or after effects. The procedure is painless. A faint knocking sound will be
heard, which is simply the imaging process in operation. The procedure is used for all parts of the body
and is effective in evaluating:
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Brain disorders
Traumatic injuries
Eye abnormalities
Spine diseases
Tumor detection
Liver and other abdominal diseases
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Knee and shoulder injuries
Musculoskeletal disorders
Facial/Neck abnormalities
Infection
Cardiac malformations
Blood flow and vessel disorders
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2. How does MRI operate, and what should you expect?
MRI images are formed when signals, emitted by body tissue, are
processed by software and turned into clinical images.
A typical procedure averages 20 minutes depending on the type of information required by your
physician. You can help to make your images spectacular by simply
relaxing and remaining as still as possible during the exam.
In fact, some patients fall asleep during the MRI exam.
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2.
Radio frequency waves are absorbed by the protons and then emitted
as a signal |
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3. A
radio frequency coil picks
up the signal and transmits it to
the
computer. |
| 1. The magnetic
field is used to align hydrogen protons in the body |
4. The computer
processes the data and an image is generated. |
During your MRI examination, a technologist
will be with you and will be able to see you at all times. For your
convenience, an intercom system is built into the MRI imager so that if
you need anything, the technologist will be right there. In certain instances, a contrast agent may be
administered to enhance the study. There are no extra precautions if
your physician requires this type of study. Consult the physician or
technologist if you have any questions.
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3. How is the Vantage 1.5T different
from other MRI machines?
This is the first high-field MRI to use advanced technology to
remove most of the noise generated by an MRI. As a result, this
creates the quietest environment for the patient.
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4.
Is there any weight limit for patients?
Our Vantage MRI can accommodate most patients.
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5.
What do you
have to do to prepare for the MRI?
No
special preparation is required prior to the MRI exam. You may eat
normally and go about your daily routine. Continue to take any
medication prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise directed.
Prior to entering the scan room for your
exam, you will be asked to leave those items that are not compatible
with a magnetic field in a safe place outside the scan room.
A list of some of these items is listed
below.
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Coins
Jewelry
Watches
Glasses
Credit cards
Hearing aides
Keys
Hair pins
Other metal objects
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 |
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 You may also be asked to remove make-up and
dentures and to wear a hospital gown to avoid magnetic interference from
belt buckles and zippers.
Check with your physician or MRI technologist
if you have had any brain, ear, eye or other surgeries or any of the
following:
Pacemaker
Neuro-stimulator (Tens-unit)
Metal implants
Aneurysm clips
Surgical staples
Implanted drug infusion device
Foreign metal objects in the eye
Shrapnel or bullet wounds
Permanent eyeliner
6. If you are pregnant, please notify the
technologist or the radiologist.
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What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound (US), also called sonography, is a method of dynamically
imaging the human body through the use of high-frequency sound waves. A
microphone-like instrument (transducer) is scanned over the skin. Gel is
placed on the skin to improve the contact of the transducer to the area
being examined. The sound waves are recorded and displayed as a
real-time visual image. US can be used to examine many parts of the body
including the abdomen, pelvis and blood vessels, as well as the fetus
during pregnancy. Because no ionizing radiation (x-ray) is involved,
ultrasound is an extremely safe imaging modality. The procedure is
painless and generally takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
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How does the procedure work?
Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in the
sonar used by bats or ships at sea. As the sound passes through the
body, echoes are produced that can be used to identify how far away an
object is, how large it is, its shape and its consistency (fluid, solid
or mixed). The ultrasound transducer functions as both a generator of
sound (like a speaker) and a detector (like a microphone). When the
transducer is pressed against the skin it directs inaudible,
high-frequency sound waves into the body. As the sound echoes from the
body’s fluids and tissues the transducer records the strength and
character of the reflected waves. These echoes are instantly measured
and displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-time picture
on the monitor. The "live" images of the examination are usually
recorded on videotape but one or more frames of the moving picture may
be "frozen" to capture a still image.
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What are the common uses of this procedure?
As a diagnostic tool, ultrasound has a wide variety of uses in
medicine, including:
- Imaging of veins and arteries to see and evaluate blockages to
blood flow
- Examining many of the body's internal organs, including the
heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and bladder
- Examining the neck to help diagnose thyroid abnormalities
- Monitoring fetal development and accessing fetal abnormalities
- Determining the cause of pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding and
other menstrual problems
- Investigating uterine abnormalities in women who experience
infertility or multiple miscarriages
- Imaging the breast and to guide biopsy in breast cancer
- Evaluating the prostate
- Determining the source of pain, swelling or infection in many
parts of the body
- Assessing organ damage following illness
- Revealing the shape, texture and composition of tumors and cysts
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What are the benefits of ultrasound?
- Ultrasound imaging offers these benefits:
- Provides a simple, painless and noninvasive imaging method
for viewing structures within the body
- Uses no ionizing radiation (x-rays) and is the preferred image
modality for diagnosis and monitoring of pregnant women and their
unborn infants
- Produces real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding
minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies
- Visualizes structure, movement and live function in the body's
organs and blood vessels
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IIs ultrasound safe?
Since ultrasound emits no x-rays, it is very safe. There are no known
risks or side effects associated with diagnostic ultrasound
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What are the limitations of ultrasound
imaging?
Ultrasound has difficulty penetrating bone and therefore can only see
the outer surface of bony structures and not what lies within. For
visualization of bone, other imaging modalities such as magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) may be selected. Because ultrasound waves do not
pass through air, an evaluation of the stomach, small intestine and
large intestine may be limited. Intestinal gas may also prevent
visualization of deeper structures such as the pancreas and aorta. Obese
patients are also more difficult to image because tissue attenuates
(weakens) the sound waves as they pass deeper into the body.
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