What Medical Conditions Can MRI Scans Diagnose

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are a type of imaging scan doctors use to see inside your body. MRI scans are safe and painless, and can help diagnose a number of conditions. About ten million people have MRI scans each year.

Features

• MRI scans employ magnets and radio waves to examine organs, bones and other areas inside your body.

Advantages

• MRI scans are able to create images of tissue inside the body, unlike x-rays, and do not use radiation, like CT scans. MRI scans are also capable of obtaining images from more angles than CT scans.

Function

• MRI scans can be used to help diagnose many conditions, including cancer, heart defects, spinal conditions and joint problems.

Warning

• Because of the powerful magnets used in MRI scans, it is dangerous to have an MRI scan if you are wearing metal jewelry, clothing with metal, or have metal inside your body (such as shrapnel or a pacemaker.)

Considerations

• Patients must rest in a large cylinder during MRI scans, which may cause some people to feel claustrophobic.