How to Know What to Expect When Getting an MRI

MRIs are common imaging tests used to gain further information about a person's internal ailments. Although these tests are commonly performed, they still remain foreign experiences for many people. This guide will help you understand what a CAT scan is, what to expect when receiving one, as well as its unique histories.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• nothing

1. What is an MRI?
   
   First used on humans in 1971, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differs from CAT scans and x-rays because the patient is not exposed to radiation. MRIs incorporate magnetism, radio waves and computers to produce results. MRIs offer high quality and detailed images of the human body’s interior; however for some tests contrast agents such as dyes, are injected into the patient to further enhance the resulting images.

2. What can I expect when receiving an MRI?
   
   When experiencing an MRI, the patient lays on a moveable table which inserts into a large magnet. The magnet’s strength attracts protons in the body’s, which are then exposed to beams of radio waves. The radio waves cause the body’s protons to spin, thereby creating a faint signal that is detected by the MRI’s receiver. The data that the receiver picks up are transferred to a computer, which interprets the information into an image.

3. When are MRIs beneficial?
   
   MRI scans are useful in detecting a variety of diseases throughout the human body. Soft tissue injuries in the hands, feet, elbows and knees are all maladies that will easily be detected by an MRI. Infections, cancers and tumors in soft tissues, muscles and organs also are viewable through the use of an MRI. In the future MRIs will be more compact, and possibly portable.