Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive modern diagnostic research method that allows you to visually examine deeply located biological tissues. It is based on such a physical phenomenon as nuclear magnetic resonance. This can be understood from the name of this method. When using it, the measurement of the electromagnetic response of atomic nuclei is performed. Most often, hydrogen atoms are used.
What is an MRI scan?
Human tissues are saturated with hydrogen. This allows you to examine organs and tissues using the features of the magnetic waves of this chemical element.
The proton (positively charged particle) of the hydrogen atom has a spin (magnetic moment), which is able to change its location in space when exposed to a powerful magnetic field. In an external magnetic field, its spin will be codirectional or oppositely directed relative to this field. This is the basis for the diagnosis of MRI.
The studied area is affected by electromagnetic radiation of a certain frequency. In this case, some protons change their magnetic moment to the opposite, after which they return to their initial position. At the end of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, a charged hydrogen particle releases relaxation energy. This energy during this process is recorded by special equipment (tomograph).
What is it used for?
MRI is a study that allows you to get an accurate image of all the soft internal organs and tissues of the body (brain and spinal cord, cartilage, etc.). This research method allows you to identify even the most minor changes and inflammatory processes, determine the speed of movement of biological fluids (blood, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid), see the reaction of the cerebral cortex to a change in the functioning of any organ. Tissues with a low water content (lungs, bones) are not examined using tomography, because their image is of poor quality. This study is especially widely used in neurosurgery and neurology. This method may have some contraindications.
Contraindications
MRI research has its contraindications. They can be absolute and relative. Absolute contraindications suggest that this study should not be performed under any circumstances. With relative contraindications, MRI is undesirable, but if absolutely necessary, this is allowed.
Absolute contraindications
- Pacemaker
- Metal implants.
- Ilizarov devices with a metal structure.
- Middle ear implants with magnetizable metal components or electronic.
Relative contraindications
- Insulin pumps.
- Stimulants of the nervous system.
- Artificial heart valves.
- Implants of the inner ear are non-ferromagnetic.
- Hemostatic clamps.
- Non-ferromagnetic vascular clips (clamps) with intracranial aneurysms.
- Heart failure during decompensation.
- Claustrophobia (panic fear of confined space).
- Mental illness and inadequate condition of the patient.
- Alcohol intoxication.
- Extremely serious condition of the patient.
- The first trimester of pregnancy.
- Tattoos that are made with dyes that have metal components.
Titanium prostheses are not a contraindication for research, because they are non-ferromagnetic. In addition, there are weight restrictions for the passage of MRI. The weight of the patient should not be more than 120 kg.
The presence of an intrauterine device, breast-feeding and menstruation are not contraindications for MRI. The final decision to refuse to carry out this procedure is made by an MRI radiologist.
How is the examination performed?
How to do an MRI? No special training is required for this procedure. The exception is MRI of the pelvic organs. On the eve of the procedure, food can be taken, but in moderation. The patient is offered to remove all accessories (watches, hairpins, jewelry), as well as dentures, a hearing aid and a wig, if any. In addition, credit cards and bank cards must also be left outside the office, as they can go bad. All metal and metal-containing, as well as electronic objects must be left behind the door, because they can violate the magnetic field that is created during the examination procedure. This will reduce the quality of pictures. In addition, this magnetic field can ruin the electronics.
If the patient has any metal prostheses, artificial heart valves, implanted electronic devices, etc., it is necessary to inform the doctor about this. Diagnosis of MRI in some cases may be contraindicated (discussed above) because of the possible harm to the patient’s health, as well as the impact on the examination result. If the doctor decided that there are no contraindications, the patient will be invited to the office for an examination. Some clinics offer to dress in a bathrobe, but you can stay in your clothes if there are no ferromagnetic materials on it.
So how do MRIs do? To perform this procedure, the patient lies in the tunnel of the tomograph. During the study, it is important to maintain absolute stillness. The quality of the pictures depends on this. The light is on in the tunnel and the fan is working, in order to make it easier to breathe. There is also a microphone built in. If necessary, you can talk with the doctor who conducts the examination.
Some examinations are carried out with a contrast medium. If necessary, contrast is injected into a vein at the elbow of the arm.
How long does the procedure take?
This type of study lasts from 15 to 45 minutes. After the end of the procedure, I can ask the patient to linger a bit until his pictures are fully studied by specialists, and there is no confidence that they are performed qualitatively, that is, there is no need to do additional ones.
MRI for young children
Typically, children are prescribed MRI if the doctor suspects a pathology in which there is a high probability of damage to the brain structures. Examinations of other internal organs using this method are prescribed less frequently for children.
This procedure is recommended for children after 5 years. It is very important that the child lies still during the study. It takes 15 to 40 minutes. It is clear that such a time without movements for a small patient is very difficult to endure. If the child behaves uneasily during the study, the images will be of poor quality and will not carry any information for the doctor.
Mom is allowed to be in the office while examining her child. A microphone is built into the tomography apparatus and it is possible to talk with the baby during the procedure.
In an extreme case, if you can’t do without this study, you can do MRI for children and younger children. But in this case, anesthesia is allowed to immobilize the child.
MRI for free under the compulsory medical insurance policy
Every citizen of the Russian Federation has a medical insurance policy. Can I do an MRI for compulsory medical insurance for free? The answer is yes, but not always. Health insurance is always included in the list of free services. If the diagnosis of MRI during the registration of the policy was included in this list, then in the state medical institution where there is a tomograph, you can easily go through this procedure for free. But for all, such a study cannot be made free. After all, MRI is a high-tech and expensive study. In state clinics, however, free quotas for MRI are allocated. But there are few of them - just a few procedures per month. If necessary, such a quota can be obtained. To undergo this diagnostic procedure for free, the patient must have a reasonable referral from the attending physician. If there is such a referral, the patient can be queued for this type of diagnosis, or if the procedure can be paid for at any time convenient for the patient. The doctor should tell you exactly where you can get an MRI for free. If doctors are unable to provide such information, you can contact your insurance company directly.
MRI: cost
It is possible to undergo an MRI for a fee both in state medical institutions and in commercial clinics. As you already understood, MRI services are not cheap. The cost depends on the type of equipment used for research, the prestige of the clinic and its remoteness from the city center. In addition, at night, MRI is somewhat cheaper. Usually, a discount system is applied to this procedure in clinics, but this must be known in advance. For example, the following categories of citizens can receive a 5% discount on MRI:
- Senior citizens.
- Participants and war veterans.
- The liquidators of the Chernobyl accident.
- Disabled people of the first and second group.
For a discount of 10% can count:
- Blockade.
- Participants of the Second World War.
- Upon presentation of a diploma of medical education and a certificate from the place of work stating that the citizen is currently working in his specialty.
The price also depends on the use of a contrast medium in an MRI procedure. The cost of research with contrast will be higher than without it. The accuracy of diagnosis using this substance is increased significantly.
The cost depends on the examination area. The average price for examining one zone without contrast is from 3,500 to 8,000 rubles.
Can MRI damage your health?
If all the necessary requirements are observed (remove all metal and electronic objects), this type of research can not do much harm. At least so far, no such cases have been recorded. X-rays are not used here, so the procedure can be repeated repeatedly as many times as needed.
If the patient has a pregnancy of up to 12 weeks, doctors assume that there is a small risk to the fetus, but this assumption is purely theoretical. Patients suffering from claustrophobia, before the procedure should notify the specialist who will perform the study. In this case, it is allowed to invite one of the close relatives to the procedure .