Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI),
Principle Advantage Disadvantage System block diagram
Principle(How MRI works)
The body is largely composed of water molecules which each contain two hydrogen nuclei or protons. When a person goes inside the powerful magnetic field of the scanner, the magnetic moments of these protons align with the direction of the field. A radio frequency electromagnetic field is then briefly turned on, causing the protons to alter their alignment relative to the field. When this field is turned off the protons return to the original magnetization alignment. These alignment changes create a signal(radio waves) which can be detected by the scanner. The scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture. These pictures are based on the location and strength of the incoming signals . The frequency at which the protons resonate depends on the strength of the magnetic field. The position of protons in the body can be determined by applying additional magnetic fields during the scan which allows an image of the body to be built up. These are created by turning gradients coils on and off which creates the knocking sounds heard during an MR scan.
Diseased tissue, such as tumors, can be detected because the protons in different tissues return to their equilibrium state at different rates. By changing the parameters on the scanner this effect is used to create contrast between different types of body tissue. Contrast agents may be injected intravenously to enhance the appearance of blood vessels, tumors or inflammation. Contrast agents may also be directly injected into a joint in the case of arthrograms, MR images of joints.
MRI is used to image every part of the body, and is particularly useful for neurological conditions, for disorders of the muscles and joints, for evaluating tumors, and for showing abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels.
How does an MRI scanner work?(additional)
The patient lies inside a large, cylinder-shaped magnet. Radio waves 10,000 to 30,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth are then sent through the body. This affects the body's atoms, forcing the nuclei into a different position. As they move back into place they send out radio waves of their own. The scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture. These pictures are based on the location and strength of the incoming signals. Our body consists mainly of water, and water contains hydrogen atoms. For this reason, the nucleus of the hydrogen atom is often used to create an MRI scan in the manner described above.
MRI versus CT # A computed tomography (CT) scanner uses X-rays, a type of ionizing radiation, to
acquire its images, making it a good tool for examining tissue composed of elements of a higher atomic number than the tissue surrounding them, such as bone and calcifications (calcium based) within the body (carbon based flesh), or of structures (vessels, bowel). MRI, on the other hand, uses non-ionizing radio frequency (RF) signals to acquire its images and is best suited for non-calcified tissue, though MR images can also be acquired from bones and teeth[40] as well as fossils.[41]
# CT may be enhanced by use of contrast agents containing elements of a higher
atomic number than the surrounding flesh such as iodine or barium. Contrast agents for MRI are those which have paramagnetic properties, e.g. gadolinium and manganese.
# Both CT and MRI scanners can generate multiple two-dimensional cross-sections
(slices) of tissue and three-dimensional reconstructions. Unlike CT, which uses only Xray attenuation to generate image contrast, MRI has a long list of properties that may be used to generate image contrast. By variation of scanning parameters, tissue contrast can be altered and enhanced in various ways to detect different features.
# MRI can generate cross-sectional images in any plane (including oblique
planes). In the past, CT was limited to acquiring images in the axial (or near axial) plane. The scans used to be called Computed Axial Tomography scans (CAT scans). However, the development of multi-detector CT scanners with near-isotropic resolution, allows the CT scanner to produce data that can be retrospectively reconstructed in any plane with minimal loss of image quality.
# For purposes of tumor detection and identification in the brain, MRI is
generally superior.[42][43][44] However, in the case of solid tumors of the abdomen and chest, CT is often preferred due to less motion artifact.
# Furthermore, CT usually is more widely available, faster, less expensive, and
may be less likely to require the person to be sedated or anesthetized. MRI is also best suited for cases when a patient is to undergo the exam several times successively in the short term, because, unlike CT, it does not expose the patient to the hazards of ionizing radiation.
Advantage
MRI provides much greater contrast between the different soft tissues of the body than computed tomography (CT) does. Unlike CT, MRI uses no ionizing radiation and is generally a very safe procedure especially useful in neurological (brain), musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and oncological (cancer) imaging. Unlike CT, NMR imaging requires no moving parts, gantries or sophisticated crystal detectors. The system scans by superimposing electrically controlled magnetic fields. Consequently, scans in any predetermined orientation are possible. Cross sectional images with any orientation are possible in NMRI systems. With the new technique being developed, NMR permits imaging of entire 3-D volumes simultaneously instead of slice, employed in other imaging systems.
Disadvantage
uses a powerful magnetic field. Patients with some metal implants, cochlear implants, and cardiac pacemakers are prevented from having an MRI scan due to effects of the strong magnetic field and powerful radio frequency pulses. During the scan it is important to lie completely still. For this reason it might be necessary to give a child an anaesthetic before they are tested.
Typical NMRI System
The major components of an MRI scanner are: the main magnet, which polarizes the sample, the shim coils for correcting inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field, the gradient system which is used to localize the MR signal and the RF system, which excites the sample and detects the resulting NMR signal. The whole system is controlled by one or more computers.
The basic components of an NMRI system as shown in fig are :
# A magnet, which provides a strong uniform, steady, magnetic field. # An RF transmitter, which delivers radio-frequency magnetic field to the sample. # A gradient system, which produces time-varying magnetic fields of controlled spatial non-uniformity. Gradient coils are used to spatially encode the positions of protons by varying the magnetic field linearly across the imaging volume. The Larmor frequency will then vary as a function of position in the x, y and z-axes. # A detection system, which yields the output signal and # An imager system, including the computer, which reconstructs and displays the images. The imaging sequencing in the system is provided by a computer. Functions such as gates and envelopes for the NMR pulses, blanking for the pre-amplifier and RF power amplifier and voltage waveforms for the gradient magnetic fields are all under software control. The computer also performs the various data processing tasks including the Fourier transformation, image reconstruction, data filtering, image display and storage. Therefore, the computer must have sufficient memory and speed to handle large image arrays and data processing, in addition to interfacing facilites.
Modern 3 tesla clinical MRI scanner
