The Basic Concepts of MRI:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Cindy Lu
Saint John’s College Junior College Abstract
MRI is ranked as one of the most rapidly advancing diagnostic imaging techniques used today. Though it is at the top, the hazards of it must be acknowledged, accepted and respected. The procedure itself is safe, but if there is a chance that it might go wrong, then it can go really wrong. Hence it is valuable to know the safety issues considered by radiologist, clinicians, physicians and radiographers during examination. This paper reviews the history behind the birth of MRI with Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell; a few uses of MRI in the medical field; the advantages with its preciseness and accuracy and the disadvantages of this application with patients containing metallic devices within them.
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Using an MRI which is painless has the advantage of avoiding exposure to X-Ray radiation. Another advantage of MRI is the preciseness and exactness in detecting the structural abnormalities or deformity of the body. Like the ups and the good in life there is also the down and bad of all times. Disadvantages of MRI scans can befall to patients who have metallic materials within the body. Therefore, patients who has such elements within their body must give inform to their doctor prior to the examination. Any metallic materials such as surgical clips, artificial joints, bone plates, or prosthetic devices etc. can affect the imagery obtained significantly. Patients who have had any insertion heart pacemakers or any metallic implants in their body must not go through an MRI scan because of the high risk of the magnet moving the metal in the areas these devices or metallic plates are located. According to the database of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Medical Device Reporting (MDR), several incidents involving MRI have been reported where one of it was as