Magnetic resonance imaging—MRI for short—is one of the imaging techniques used in radiology. It is used to produce precise images of soft tissues or organs. Magnetic resonance imaging provides accurate, high-resolution cross-sectional images that allow specialists to assess structures and functions.
Here you will find further information as well as a selection of MRI specialists and radiology centers.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique. Unlike X-ray procedures, it does not involve exposure to radiation. An MRI machine generates a strong magnetic field that affects the atoms in soft tissue and makes them visible.
An MRI can image not only bones but also, among other things,
.
This makes it superior to X-rays or sonography (ultrasound) in many cases.
The examination is based on a physical principle. Atoms with an odd number of protons or neutrons have the property of spinning around their own axis (spin), which gives them a magnetic property. Hydrogen atoms, in particular, act as good magnetic poles.
For this reason, areas containing a lot of water can be visualized particularly well with an MRI.
For the exam, the patient must lie inside a large, tube-like machine.
A patient is being moved into an MRI machine © Nejron Photo | AdobeStock
How far the patient is moved into the tube depends on the area being examined. For example, if the ankle is being examined, most of the body remains outside the tube. For examinations of
, the patient must be moved further into the tube.
Since the approximately 30-minute exam is very loud, ear protectors are provided beforehand. The patient is also given an emergency stop button to hold. Many people feel uncomfortable in the narrow tube. If claustrophobia becomes too severe, the staff can be alerted by pressing the emergency switch.
By the way, caution is advised with
, as these can become hot or be damaged.
Before the examination, the patient must therefore fill out a comprehensive questionnaire. The magnetic field itself is not perceptible to the patient.
Once it comes to visualizing certain areas of the body, X-rays or ultrasound are no longer sufficient. MRI is used most frequently in sports, among other fields, to assess the full extent of an injury.
Ligaments, tendons, and muscles cannot be visualized on an X-ray. An MRI can do this, thereby making doctors’ work easier. But even outside the realm of sports, an MRI provides valuable insights.
Whether it’s
—an MRI allows the doctor to quickly gain insights. To make the areas even more visible, a contrast agent may be administered before the exam.
After the exam, the patient may wait a few minutes and will then be asked to meet with the radiologist. There, the patient will be informed of the results. The radiologist will send the findings to the referring physician.
An MRI cannot be ordered without a referral. The referring physician is also the first point of contact when it comes to further treatment. The radiologist is solely responsible for performing the examination and preparing the report.
The following areas can be examined using MRI:
Please note that the wait time for an MRI appointment can be very long. Wait times of at least a week are common here.
Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
