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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most sophisticated diagnostic tools available.

The images can be used for early detection and treatment planning for many conditions and diseases.

MRI often replaces invasive tests that may be risky, less accurate, more expensive, or require hospitalization.

The technology uses a large magnet, radio waves and a selection of coils to examine the region of interest requested by your doctor.

Radio signals given off by the body are digitally processed to produce images based on both the body’s anatomy and its chemical composition and does not require the use of ionizing radiation. Sometimes a contrast agent may be required. This helps to make the details of the MRI images clearer.

Whole Body MRI

Whole-body MRI is a noninvasive screening technique that acquires images of the entire body in the coronal plane. It is a reliable method of detecting diseases throughout the body including malignant tumors by accurately differentiating between normal and abnormal tissues throughout the body.

Uses of Whole Body MRI

Evaluation of:

Thoracic and abdominal organs
Pelvic organs including the bladder and the reproductive organs.
Blood vessels (including MR Angiography).
Lymph nodes.
Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Heart problems, such as congenital heart disease.
A fetus in-utero

Benefits of the scan

MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation.
Non-contrast procedure
Offers excellent detail of the bones and soft-tissue structures of the body.
Early detection and evaluation of many focal lesions and tumors.

Breast Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical test that physicians use to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Images of the breast tissue are acquired using dedicated breast coils, various imaging techniques and in most cases a gadolinium injection is also administered.

MRI of the breast offers valuable information about many breast conditions that cannot be obtained by other imaging modalities, such as mammography or ultrasound.

Uses of breast imaging

To screen women at high risk for breast cancer
To evaluate breast implants
As a follow-up to post chemotherapy treatment in patients getting Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
To further evaluate hard-to-assess abnormalities seen on mammograms
To evaluate lumpectomy sites in the years following breast cancer treatment
To determine the extent of cancer after a new diagnosis of breast cancer

Benefits

Procedure is noninvasive and does not require use of ionizing radiation
Successfully images dense breasts in younger women
Successfully images breast implants
Provides guidance for biopsy
Valuable in detection and staging of breast cancer
When used alongside mammography, is quite useful in evaluating women with high risk for breast cancer

Multi-parametric Prostate Imaging

Prostatic MRI is a non-invasive medical test performed to diagnose and treat pathologies of the prostate.

Uses of Prostatic MRI

For Assessment of complications after pelvis surgery
Prior to prostate biopsy
Staging of prostate cancer
For evaluation of enlarged prostate
Rising PSA
Congenital abnormality
Infection or prostate abscess.

Benefits of MRI Prostate

Noninvasive exam with no use of ionizing radiation.
Very clear images of the prostate with great soft tissue detail generated.
MRI is valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions of the prostate.
MR spectroscopy, diffusion and perfusion can examine the chemical makeup of the prostate which can diagnose prostate cancer.
Less possibility of reaction to contrast in comparison to other modalities.

MR Spectroscopy

Also known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a non-invasive, ionizing-radiation-free analytical technique that has been used to study metabolic changes in brain tumors, strokes, seizure disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and other diseases affecting the brain. It has also been used to study the metabolism of other organs.

Benefits:

Increases specificity of tumor
Improves the ability to predict histological grade

Non-Contrast Pulmonary MRI

A non-contrast pulmonary MR Angiogram is a safe and noninvasive alternative to conventional CT angiography and contrast enhanced MR angiography in the diagnosis of diseases in the pulmonary vasculature, without the administration of a contrast agent.

The pulmonary vasculature consists of the arteries, veins and capillaries that transport oxygenated and deoxygenated blood between the lungs and the heart. The most important application to date is detection of blood clots (thrombi) in the pulmonary arteries.

Benefits: