What is an MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging diagnostic system using radio waves, a magnetic field, and a computer to visualize internal organs of the human body and obtain diagnostic information. An MRI displays images of the body in “slices” similar to that of a CT scan, but it is also able to reflect greater contrast between different types of body tissues.
MRI images are produced without the use of radiation and there are no known side or after-effects. The procedure is painless, noninvasive, and you won’t see or feel anything during the exam. A faint knocking sound will be heard, which is the imaging process in operation. In some instances, contrast agents, such as gadolinium, are used to enhance certain anatomical structures and increase the diagnostic accuracy of the images.
Magnetic resonance imaging is used for virtually all parts of the body and is one of the advanced imaging techniques utilized at Preferred Imaging. In addition to its use to view precise details of the head, neck, spine, muscles, joints, and bones, it is also used to image the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Frequently, the differentiation of abnormal (diseased) tissue from normal tissues is better with MRI than with other imaging modalities such as X-ray, CT, and ultrasound.
What is Radiology?
Radiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the use of medical imaging technologies to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. Radiology involves the use of various imaging modalities, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasonography, and nuclear medicine, to examine different parts of the body, including bones, organs, and tissues.
Radiology technologists and radiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in using these imaging tools to create detailed images of the inside of the body. The images produced through radiology are used by healthcare providers to diagnose and monitor diseases and injuries, plan treatments and surgeries, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments over time.
Radiology has rapidly evolved, and now includes interventional radiology, which allows healthcare providers to use imaging guidance to perform minimally invasive procedures, such as biopsies and catheter placements. Interventional radiology procedures are often less risky, less invasive, and provide faster recovery times than conventional surgical procedures.