What Is MRI?
When the hydrogen nuclei resonate in response to changes in a magnetic field, they emit radiofrequency energy.
The images obtained by MRI scanning are generated as 3D projections and are remarkably precise and detailed.
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In some ways, it is almost like doing exploratory surgery on a computer screen.
These energy disparities can be represented by different colors on the MRI display.
What Can Cardiac MRI Do Today?
Thanks to technological advancements, MRI has become very useful in the evaluation of many cardiovascular conditions.
MRI scanning has become a routine and nearly indispensable aid to surgical repair of disorders of the aorta.
MRI can also help to evaluate the extent and nature ofhypertrophic cardiomyopathy(an abnormally thick heart muscle).
Structural cardiovascular abnormalities: MRI can also locate and characterize the rarecardiac tumor.
Pericardial disease: MRI can help to measure the extent of apericardial effusion, and to evaluateconstrictive pericarditis.
These include:
What Are the Advantages of MRI?
What Are the Disadvantages of MRI?
As MRI technology improves and becomes less expensive, it will be incorporated more routinely into cardiovascular diagnosis.
2008;10(1):35. doi:10.1186/1532-429X-10-35
