Medical Imaging: Illuminating the body part 2

Hi,

My name is Franz Devantier, creator of this blog.  I am an Herbalist, who uses local and indigenous herbs when available, in preference to imported herbs.  Because Herbalists deal with living human beings, it is important to have an understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as many other related subjects, such as How to grow old gracefully with Stem Cell Enhancers.

Medical Imaging: Illuminating the body part 2

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

This is a technique with a very big appeal, mainly because it produces high-contrast images of our soft tissues.  This is an area where X rays and CT scans are weak. As it was designed, MRI maps the hydrogen element in our body.  Most of the Hydrogen is in water.  The MRI technique subjects the body to magnetic fields that are up to 60,000 times stronger than that of the earth’s magnetic field.  These huge magnetic fields are used to glean information from the body’s molecules.

 The patient lies in a chamber that is formed within a gigantic magnet.  Hydrogen molecules spin like tops in in this magnetic field, and their energy is enhanced by radio waves.  At the point where the Radio Waves are turned off, the energy released is translated into a visual image.

MRI tends to distinguish body tissues from each other on the basis of the difference in water content.  An MRI can therefor distinguish between the fatty white matter in the brain and the more watery grey matter of the brain.  This technique can display the delicate nerve fibres in the spinal cord.

Dense structures don’t show up at all in MRI, therefore MRI can easily look inside the skull and vertebral column.  MRI is also an excellent tool for detecting tumors and degenerative diseases of various kinds.  For example Multiple Sclerosis Plaques do not show up well in CT scans, however they are clear and bright in MRI scans.

MRI can also be used to tune or focus on metabolic reactions, for example processes that generate energy-rich ATP molecules.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

MRS is a newer variation of MRI.  MRS can map the distribution of elements other than hydrogen.  MRS can be used to reveal more detail on how disease changes the body chemistry.

Advances in computer technology are allowing MRI scans to be displayed in three dimensions.  This technology is very useful when combined to guide laser surgery.  In 1992 MRI technology took a leap forward with the development of:

Functional MRI:   

Functional MRI allows the tracking of blood flow into the brain in real time.  Up to the development of Functional MRI; matching thoughts, deeds, and disease to corresponding brain activity, could have only been achieved with PET technology.  Functional MRI does not require injections of tracer elements, it provides a safer alternative to these kinds of studies.

Despite the many advantages of MRI, there are some problems as well.  MRI can “suck” metal objects such as implanted pace-makers and loose tooth fillings, through and from the body.  There is as yet no convincing evidence that such strong magnetic fields can be used without risks to the human body.  Currently Medical science does consider MRI to be safe.

The images produced By MRI, and enhanced by computers are stunning and accurate.  They are artificially enhanced and coloured to produce clarity.  So the images are several steps removed from a direct visual image, they remain accurate and useful.

CT and PET scans account for about 25% of imaging.  Ultrasonography, because of its safely and relative low cost, has become one of the most widespread techniques used.  MRI scans also form a large percentage of the medical scan done.  However the X rays remain the workhorse of diagnostic imaging techniques.  X-Rays could still be about half of the medical scans done.  

Franz Devantier,

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