MRI Information
The Field Strength (Tesla) and Number of Channels of the MRI Systems are Very Important
Why does magnet strength matter?
Stronger MRI magnets produce better and more detailed images, which help provide the most accurate diagnosis.
Why are more channels important?
The higher the number of channels the – better the diagnostic quality. We have one of the only 32 channel 3T MRIs in Central Florida.
Is Neuro Imaging Winter Park’s 3T an improvement over other 1.5 and 3T MRI’s?
Yes. The combination of the 32 channels with 3T results in added details for improved diagnostic accuracy. Neuro Imaging Winter Park is ACR accredited.
Is Neuro Imaging Winter Park’s 3T safe?
Yes. Our 3T MRI scanner is FDA approved and as safe as other MRI scanners.
Is the MRI completely enclosed?
No. Our short bore MRI is open at both ends (at the head and at the feet). The wide bore allows larger or claustrophobic patients a comfortable scanning experience. Sometimes the head doesn’t even need to be inside the tube, depending on the body part being imaged.
MRI uses a magnetic field in combination with radiowaves to create images of the body. The patient lies on a movable table, which is positioned so that the body part being examined is placed in the center of a doughnut-like cylinder.
The patient will be given ear plugs and has the option of listening to music during the exam, which usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.
A series of loud knocks will be heard during the MRI because of the machinery adjusting the magnetic field and radiowaves to obtain the best possible images.
Typically, the MRI exam will be made up of between 5 and 10 types of images, each taking between 2 and 5 minutes to obtain. The patient will need to remain motionless during each of these image acquisitions. A small break of a few seconds will be given in between image acquisitions, but the table cannot be repositioned until the end of the exam.
Once the examination is completed, the patient is free to leave. The images are then sent digitally to a subspecialty-trained radiologist for interpretation. The results are then delivered and/or faxed to your referring doctor the same day or the following morning. If it is an urgent case, you will be escorted to the waiting room, while our radiologist discusses the findings of the case with your referring doctor, who will then decide the next plan of treatment.
ADVANTAGES OF MRI
MRI provides exquisite detailed anatomy of the human body. There is no radiation involved with MRI, so it is considered safer than X-rays and CT scans. MRI is usually the modality of choice for imaging the brain, spine, joints, extremities, and often the abdomen and pelvis. Currently, CT scan is certainly preferred for imaging the lungs, bowel, and kidney stones. Occasionally, after an MRI is obtained, a CT scan is needed to further evaluate a particular abnormality to improve the diagnostic accuracy.
MRI should not be performed if the patient has a pacemaker or is in first trimester pregnancy. There are certain other conditions which may be unsafe for an MRI. Please speak with our staff to see if you are qualified for an MRI.