Electronic Health Reporter

Even though all of us would love to remain fit and healthy, we are bound to fall sick some time or the other. Luckily, modern medicine has advanced significantly and has improved the levels of public health. Whenever you visit a doctor, he or she uses modern methods and technologies to diagnose the problem.

These new methods and technologies have greatly improved the efficiency and accuracy of the diagnosis made by the doctors. MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is one such modern technology that is used for diagnosis. The MRI uses strong magnetic and radio waves to produce clear and accurate images of the internal organs of the body. These images which are generated by the MRI can be used to diagnose ailments that are present in the inner tissues.

What results can you expect from the MRI test?

Here are a few of the numerous advantages of Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI:

1.    Important diagnostic tool

MRI has become an important diagnostic tool in modern times, and a lot of doctors have started using this technology. MRI ‘doesn’t help in the treatment of an ailment but helps doctors in identifying it. It is relatively safe to use, and hence, many doctors recommend MRIs whenever some have pain or discomfort in their tissues. MRI can provide images of all internal organs and can consequently be used to diagnose a host of diseases.

2.    Non-invasive

One of the reasons why doctors readily prescribe MRI tests is that it’s completely non-invasive. Since no cuts or incisions need to be made, the patient is fit to resume a healthy life immediately after the test. It is an entirely painless procedure. It allows doctors to observe the deep tissues in patients which cannot be reached easily through invasive techniques. The use of radio and magnetic waves eliminate the need for the invasive examination.

3.    Cross-sectional images

Before MRI scans, X-ray scans and CT scans were accessible amongst patients and doctors alike. This technology, however, was outdated and lacked several aspects which necessitated the entry of MRI into this field. None of the earlier technologies could produce 3-D cross-sectional images of the internal organs of the body. MRI scans produce 3-d cross-sectional pictures of the body with high accuracy. This advantage of MRI quickly allowed it to take over the healthcare market and become a popular diagnostic tool.

4.    Painless

One of the biggest benefits of MRI is that it is a completely painless procedure, and this has made this method popular amongst patients. This method is not just effective and accurate but is also patient-friendly. Since there is no invasion or poking required, the procedure is painless. All a patient has to do is lie down inside the MRI machine, and the tool does all the rest using radio and magnetic waves that it generates. Even though the waves penetrate the body, the patient feels nothing and is free to resume normal activity after the test.

5.    Can diagnose a host of diseases

The strength of the MRI is in its versatility. MRI is not something that is performed for a particular disease. It is something that can be used to diagnose a host of diseases since all it does is provide a clear image of the internal organs. MRIs can be used to diagnose various heart and vascular diseases. It can also help in determining cases of strokes. Bone and other tissue disorders are being actively diagnosed using MRIs. MRIs can prove to be a vital tool incorrectly diagnosing an ailment before beginning with the appropriate treatment.

6.    Helps in diagnosing cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease with one of the highest mortality rates in the world. Cancer can be difficult to diagnose since it occurs deep within the soft tissue of humans. MRI comes to the rescue here and is being used to diagnose several types of cancers actively.

MRIs have finally provided means to non-invasively diagnose cancer, while the other method (biopsy) requires invasion. The bright and sharp 3-D cross-sectional images allow doctors to identify cancer growth and prescribe appropriate treatment visually.

MRI allows doctors to diagnose cancer even when a biopsy is not possible. MRIs have helped in saving a lot of lives by enabling doctors to diagnose the incidences of cancer correctly.

7.    No manual labor required

MRI machines are large pieces of equipment that are easy to operate. One does not have to manually do anything to the patient apart from asking the patient to lie down. There is no surgical expertise required to produce an MRI machine. MRI technicians are usually not even doctors, and they can correctly use the computer. This lack of manual labor makes the operation of MRI machines easier and has resulted in propagating their spread across different geographies.

8.    Computerized

Another significant advantage of MRI is that the whole system is entirely automated. A patient has to lie down, and the machine does everything and else. This has dramatically increased patient compliance in terms of MRI scans.

After completing an MRI scan, the computer generates a report almost instantly, which can be used by doctors in their diagnosis. This level of automation in the case of MRIs has dramatically reduced the scope of human error. Computerized results are quick and can be relied upon to deliver a definitive diagnosis. This also allows ease of access and ease of interpretation of the complex data that an MRI machine generates.

9.    Can be done on almost anyone

The MRI machine is extremely patient-friendly, and it can accommodate anyone. There are no restrictions in terms of age when it comes to getting an MRI. Moreover, any allergies that a patient may have become irrelevant when it comes to MRI. Thus, MRIs are safe and can be done to anyone as long as the doctor prescribes it.

People with metallic implants or cardiac pacemakers should avoid getting MRIs as the metal will react to the magnetic waves that MRI machines produce. Thus, after a quick verbal confirmation regarding the absence of implants, a patient is ready to go for an MRI scan. Patient-friendly MRIs are done at places like Express MRI and many more such establishments.

10.    No radiation involved

The earlier method of X-rays leads to exposure to harmful X-rays, which can cause permanent damage to the body. This radiation exposure is dangerous and should be avoided, but unfortunately, there was no way to do this until MRI came along.

Undergoing an MRI scan does not expose the patient to any harmful radiation. The radio and magnetic waves used are quite safe and have no permanently damaging effects. X-rays, on the other hand, can cause permanent damage to the ‘patient’s body.

Final thoughts

We hope that what you read above has taken away any fear you had related to having an MRI. ‘Don’t be reluctant to get an MRI if it has been prescribed and try to choose a reputed place to get the test done.

If you found this kind of test an interesting one to go through, we are afraid you cannot randomly have yourself checked without a prescription.