Molecular Imaging: Magnetic Resonance

One of the techniques used in medical imaging is known as magnetic resonance imaging. It means that radiologists use this technology to look at the function and the structure of a body. Every single body part can be seen at any preferred angle, and in quite minute detail, so that radiologists can get to know exactly which part of the body is ailing. As this is perfect for the getting detailed images of soft tissue, magnetic resonance imaging can very easily be used for looking at the soft tissues in the brain, cardiovascular tissues, muscular and skeletal tissues.

Many people go in for CT scans, when they want to get neurological tests done. But this is the best test when one wants to scan the brain, because there is no radiation use here. Magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnetic field instead of radiation that is used during a CT scan. The target of this magnetic field is the hydrogen atoms that are present in the body fluids. These hydrogen atoms are magnetised so that they can be aligned and manipulated according to the wishes of the specialist doing this test.

A scanner can detect all the cells that are exposed to this field. All the information of these cells present is slowly built up so that the complete image of the body is constructed. This technology has not been in vogue for too long, because the first MRI test was done in 1977. On the other hand, the x-ray machine has been around for about 110 years.