MRI: MAGNETIC

RESONANCE IMAGING
Presented By: Khalid Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim

Course: Dental Radiography (Prof. Dr. Soha Basha)

OUTLINE

Definition of MRI
History of MRI
Mechanism of Action
Components of MRI Machine
Advantages of MRI
Disadvantages of MRI
MRI VS. CT
Recent MRIs
DEFINITION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that uses a

magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of
the organs and tissues within your body.
HISTORY
 Nikola Tesla discovered the Rotating
Magnetic Field in 1882 in Hungary.

 In 1956, the "Tesla Unit" was proclaimed.

 All MRI machines are calibrated in "Tesla

Units".

 The strength of a magnetic field is

measured in Tesla or Gauss Units.
History (Cont.)

1 Tesla = 10,000 Gauss

 Low-Field MRI= Under 0.2 Tesla (2,000 Gauss)

 Mid-Field MRI= 0.2 - 0.6 Tesla (2,000 - 6,000 Gauss)

 High-Field MRI= 1.0 - 1.5 Tesla (10,000 - 15,000 Gauss)

History (cont.)
Professor Isidor I. Rabi
 In 1937, Professor Isidor I. Rabi, observed the quantum
phenomenon dubbed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

 He recognized that the atomic nuclei show their

presence by absorbing or emitting radio waves when
exposed to a sufficiently strong magnetic field.
History (cont.)
Raymond Damadian
 Raymond Damadian, a physician, discovered that
hydrogen signal in cancerous tissue is different from
that of healthy tissue because tumors contain more
water.

 More water means more hydrogen atoms. When

the MRI machine was switched off, the bath of radio
waves from cancerous tissue will linger longer then
those from the healthy tissue.
HISTORY (CONT.)
Paul Lauterbur

 In 1973, Paul Lauterbur, a chemist, produced the first NMR image.

 On July 3, 1977, the first human scan was made as the first MRI prototype.
(The process took 5 hours).
MECHANISM OF ACTION

Magnetic field temporarily realigns hydrogen atoms

in your body.

Radio waves cause these aligned atoms to produce

signals

Signals used to create cross-sectional MRI images

MECHANISM OF ACTION
MECHANISM OF ACTION
COMPONENTS OF MRI MACHINE
COMPONENTS OF MRI MACHINE
Magnet

There is a horizontal tube that runs through the magnet

and is called a bore.

Most MRI magnets use a magnetic field of 0.5 to 2.0

tesla. (Earth’s magnetic field is only 0.5 gauss.)

The magnetic field is produced by passing current

through multiple coils that are inside the magnet.
COMPONENTS OF MRI
Gradient Coils

There are three different gradient

coils located within the main magnet.

Each one of these produce three different

magnetic fields that are each less strong
that the main field.

The gradient coils create a variable field

(x, y, z) that can be
increased or decreased to allow specific
and different parts of the body to be
scanned by altering and adjusting the
main magnetic field.
COMPONENTS OF MRI
Radio Frequency (RF) coils

Transmit radio frequency waves into the patient’s body.

There are different coils located inside the MRI scanner to

transmit waves into different body
parts.

If a certain area of the body is specified, then all the RF

coils usually
become focused on the body part being imaged to allow for
a better scan.
COMPONENTS OF MRI

Patient Table

This component simply slides the patient into the MRI machine.

The position at which the patient lies down on the table is determined by the
part of the body that is being scanned.

Area under examination is placed in the exact

centre of the magnetic field (isocentre).
 COMPONENTS OF MRI
Antenna/Computer System

The antenna detects the RF signals emitted by a patient’s body

and feeds this information into the computer system.

The computer system:

function is to receive, record, and analyze the images of the

patient.

It interprets the data

produce an understandable image

ADVANTAGES

 scanning and detection of abnormalities in soft tissue.

 There is no involvement of any kind of radiations in the

MRI

 MRI scan can provide information about the blood

circulation

 Painless
ADVANTAGES (CONT.)
 images may be acquired in multiple planes (Axial,
Sagittal, Coronal, or Oblique) without repositioning the
patient

 MRI images demonstrate superior soft tissue contrast than

CT scans and plain films making it the ideal examination
of the brain, spine, joints and other soft tissue body parts

 functional MRI allows visualization of both active parts of

the brain during certain activities and understanding of
the underlying networks
DISADVANTAGES
 MRI scans are considered to be a safe procedure providing you do not have
any implants or objects on you that must not go in the scanner.

 The powerful magnetic fields generated by the MRI scanner will attract metal
objects

 The magnetic field of the MRI scanner can also pull on any metal-containing
object in your body, such as medicine pumps and aneurysm clips. Medical
implants may heat up during the scan as a result of the technology.

 MRI scans can cause heart pacemakers, defibrillation devices and cochlear
implants to malfunction.

 Expensive
MRI VS. CT

CT Scan MRI
Radiation The effective None. MRI machines
exposure radiation dose from do not emit ionizing
CT ranges from 2 to radiation
10 mSv, which is about
the same as the
average person
receives from
background radiation
in 3 to 5 years.
MRI VS. CT
Cost CT Scan MRI

costs range from costs range from $1,200

$1,200 to $3,200; they to $4,000 (with
usually cost less than contrast), which is
MRIs (about half the usually more expensive
price of MRI). than CT scans and X-
rays, and most
examining methods.
MRI VS. CT
Time taken for complete Usually completed within 5 Depending on what the MRI
scan minutes. is looking for, and where it
Actual scan time usually is needing to look, the scan
less than 30 seconds. may be quick (finished in
10-15 minutes) or may take
Therefore, CT is less a long time (2 hours).
sensitive to patient
movement than MRI.
MRI VS. CT
Effects on the body Despite being small, CT No biological hazards
can pose the risk of have been reported with
irradiation. the use of MRI.

Painless, noninvasive. However, some may be

allergic to the contrast
dye
MRI VS. CT
Ability to change the With capability of MRI machines can
imaging plane without MDCT, isotropic imaging produce images in any
moving the patient is possible. plane. Plus, 3D
isotropic imaging also
After helical scan with can also produce
Multiplanar Multiplanar
Reformation function, Reformation.
an operator can
construct any plane.
 MRI VS. CT
Application Suited for bone injuries, Suited for Soft tissue
Lung and Chest imaging, evaluation,
cancer detection.

Widely used on Emergency e.g., ligament and tendon

Room patients. injury, spinal cord injury,
brain tumors, etc.
MRI VS. CT
Details of bony Provides good details Less detailed
structures about bony structures compared to X-ray
 MRI VS. CT
Details of soft tissues A major advantage of CT is Provides much more soft
that it is able to image tissue detail than a CT scan.
bone, soft tissue and blood
vessels all at the same
time.
MRI VS. CT
Scope of application CT can outline bone MRI is more versatile
inside the body very than the X-Ray and is
accurately. used to examine a large
variety of medical
conditions.
 MRI VS. CT
Intravenous Contrast Agent Non-ionic iodinated agents Very rare allergic reaction.
covalently bind the iodine and
have fewer side effects.

Allergic reaction is rare but more Risk of reaction in those who have
common than MRI contrast. or have a history of kidney or liver
disease
 MRI VS. CT
Comfort level for patient Seldom creates Anxiety, especially anxiety
claustrophobia caused by claustrophobia, is
common, as is tiredness or
annoyance over having to
stay still on a hard table for
a long period of time.
 MRI VS. CT
Limitation for Scanning patients
Patients with metal implants can
get CT scan.
A person who is very large (e.g.
over 200 kg) may not fit into the
opening of a conventional CT
scanner or may be over the
weight limit for the moving table.
Patients with Cardiac
Pacemakers, tattoos and metal
implants are contraindicated due
to possible injury to patient or
image distortion (artifact).
Patient over 160 kg may be over
table's weight limit.
 DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF MRI MACHINE
OPEN-BORE MRI:
Typically, an open MRI will have two flat
magnets positioned over-and-under with a
large space between them for the patient to
lay in.

This configuration keeps the space open on two

sides and alleviates much of the claustrophobia
many patients experience.

The clarity in this magnetic range is less than

closed-bore
DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF MRI MACHINE

WIDE-BORE MRI: MORE THAN 60 CM

Several manufacturers have responded by

introducing “wide-bore” systems into this
higher-field magnet category.

While these systems don’t create a wider field

of view, they do create a more comfortable
atmosphere for the patient.