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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffMRI is a noninvasive way for your doctor to examine your organs, tissues and skeletal system. It produces high-resolution images that help diagnose a variety of problems.
MRI of the brain and spinal cord
MRI is the most sensitive imaging test of the brain and spinal cord. It's often performed to help diagnose:
- Tumors
- Developmental abnormalities
- Aneurysms
- Stroke
- Pituitary gland diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Dementia progression
- Spinal cord injuries
Functional MRI of the brain (fMRI) can be used to identify important language and movement control areas in the brain in people who are being considered for brain surgery.
MRI of the heart and blood vessels
An MRI that focuses on the heart or blood vessels can assess:
- The size and thickness of walls in the heart's chambers
- The extent of damage caused by heart attack or heart disease
- The buildup of plaques and blockages in the blood vessels
- Structural problems in the aorta, such as aneurysms or dissections
MRI of other internal organs
An MRI may be used to check for tumors or other abnormalities of the:
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Uterus
- Ovaries
- Prostate
- Testicles
MRI of bones and joints
MRI may be used to help evaluate:
- Joint disorders, such as arthritis
- Joint abnormalities caused by traumatic or repetitive injuries
- Disk abnormalities in the spine
- Bone infections
MRI of the breasts
MRI may be used in addition to mammography to detect breast cancer, particularly in women who have dense breast tissue or who may be at high risk of the disease.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- Safety: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_mr&bhcp=1. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- MRI of the head. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=headmr. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- Cardiac MRI. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=cardiacmr. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- MR angiography (MRA). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=angiomr. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- MRI of the body (chest, abdomen, pelvis). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=bodymr&bhcp=1. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- MRI of the musculoskeletal system. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=muscmr. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- MRI of the breast. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=breastmr. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
- Welker K (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 26, 2008.
- Functional MR imaging (fMRI) - Brain. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=fmribrain&bhcp=1. Accessed Sept. 29, 2008.
