Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI is a highly sophisticated test using a large magnet, radio waves, and a specialized computer system to generate incredibly detailed images of the body. It is effective in illustrating soft tissue structures not visible via standard X-ray technologies, and can even detect slight abnormalities. MRI does not expose patients to radiation, but rather uses a strong magnet that ‘excites’ protons within the human body. Once the magnetic field is turned off, the protons ‘relax’ and generate a signal that is picked up by antenna and interpreted by a computer system to create images.