Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan Paper Example

What is MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan is a medical procedure that is conducted around the world, and it used a strong magnetic field and radio waves to establish a detailed image of the body tissues. MRI scans are used to conduct medical procedures and research. The MRI scanner appears like a large tube that has a table at the center, where the patient slides in. The MRI scan is commonly confused with a CT and X-ray scan (Marrouche & Kholmovski, 2017). However, it differs with these medical procedures since it does not use harmful ionizing radiations that are harmful to the body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the body utilizes a powerful and strong attractive field, radio waves and a PC to deliver nitty gritty photos of a patient's body. It might be utilized to help analyze or screen treatment for an assortment of conditions inside the chest, stomach area and pelvis. In case one is expectant, the utilization of the body MRI might be utilized to securely screen your infant.

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What are the common uses of MRI scans in medical practice?

MRI scans have presented a significant milestone in medical practice around the world. Physicians, doctors, and researchers can study and examine the human body in detail by using non-invasive technology. The MRI scanner is utilized to analyze any abnormalities in the brain or the spinal cord. It is also used to check for tumors and cysts in certain parts of the body (McCabe et al., 2015). In the contemporary world, breast cancer screening is conducted using the MRI scanner for women who are at high risk of getting breast cancer. The scanner analyzes injuries and abnormalities in the back, knee, and joints. Also, the physician can check for any diseases of the liver, and other boy organs. Most importantly, MRI scans have improved the diagnosis of pelvic pains in women which are caused by fibroids and endometriosis.

What are the safety issues in MRI scanning?

Various safety issues should be observed when conducting magnetic resonance imaging. The MR system has a powerful magnetic field that attracts certain objects from metals, and this causes a sudden movement which occurs at a great force. This can pose a risk to the patient who is in the path of these objects. Great care should be taken to keep away external objects from the MRI scan. The patient should also remove any objects that might be attracted to the magnetic field such as hearing aids, watches, mobile phones, and jewelry. The MRI facility should have a proper screening strategy where all the procedures and protocols are followed (Marrouche & Kholmovski, 2017). The MRI should have adequate knowledge about how safety issues and special precautions. The patients should be dressed in hospital gowns before imaging to reduce the risks that are associated with using synthetic fiber clothing. One should likewise fill the radiologist in as to whether they have any genuine medical issues, or in the event that they have had ongoing medical procedures. A few conditions, for example, serious kidney sickness, may keep one from being given gadolinium contrast for an MRI. On the off chance that they have a background marked by kidney ailment or liver transplant, it will be important to play out a blood test to decide if the kidneys are working sufficiently

What are the bioeffects associated with MRI?

MRI is a safe medical technology since it only changes the position of atoms, but it does not change their structure and properties. However, it is essential to understand, acknowledge and consider the intrinsic hazards that are associated with MRI. The risks can affect the patients, staff members and other individuals within the magnetic resonance environment. Most of the dangers are biological effects (Marrouche & Kholmovski, 2017). The in vitro effects of MRI occur with prolonged exposure of more than thirty minutes, and they affect cell growth, cell proliferation and distribution patterns of cells in the body. It can also reduce the number of cells, their organization, and size. This subsequently causes an increase in the blood viscosity which is dangerous for oxygenation.

Is MRI safe during pregnancy?

The safety of MRI during pregnancy has been of significant concern in medical practice. Some studies suggest that MRI is safe during the first three months of pregnancy, but it may affect the baby`s vision when continually used beyond the first trimester of the pregnancy. Other studies suggest that MRI can be used for pregnant women if there are no other non-ionizing modes of imaging that can be used to provide the required diagnostics imaging. Generally, many scientific findings show that MRI does not have an adverse effect on pregnant women. However, some investigations are underway to assess the subtle increase in motor functions and height reductions in children that have been exposed to MRI scans.

What is Claustrophobia and how is it associated with MRI?

Claustrophobia is an irrational fear of being fixed in a confined space. As stated above, MRI is done by enclosing the patient in a large tube where the patient slides in. Some MRI patients experience mild anxiety and panic attacks. They end up losing control of in the process of taking the scan. Patients are advised to inform their physicians if they have had prior experiences of claustrophobia. They can be assisted by being given a mild sedative or getting advice from the practitioner. Some health care centers have invested in MRI machines that have wide openings and those which have good lighting to reduce the condition among patients (Somers et al., 2018). The wide devices ensure comfort for the patients during the examination, and this produces a high resolution which provides more precise images. Some MRI scans do not require the patients to have their heads inside the scanner. When the physician is examining the knee, leg, and foot, the patient is not required to enter the MRI scanner, and this does not cause claustrophobia. The condition can also be reduced by incorporating speakers inside the scanner to communicate with the patient and enable them to be relaxed.

What should a patient expect in the procedure of taking an MRI?

MRI does not require a lot of preparation. The patient should avoid carrying metallic objects when entering the magnetic resonance imaging room. The patient is then provided with an MRI screening form which should be filled before entering in the scanner. After entering in the scanner, it produces a clicking or banging sound as the magnetic fields get altered (Somers et al., 2018). The sound varies from time to time since it may occur rapidly or occasionally. The sounds are part of the examination, and they should not be a reason for the patient`s claustrophobia. The time of scanning depends on the condition that is being examined. The patient is advised to hold his or her breathe occasionally. Some procedures require the addition of a contrast liquid to aid in the examination process.

What are the signs and symptoms that have been reported by medical staff and researchers when working in MRI?

The MRI working environment has a lot of safety issues that should be considered by the medical personnel who work in this area. The hazards associated with MRI may cause them to have adverse health conditions that are characterized by certain signs and symptoms. The common signs and symptoms that have been reported by the medical staff include tingling sensations, muscle contractions, headache and concentration problems (Somers et al., 2018). Other signs and symptoms include nausea, seeing flashing lights and body balance difficulties. Most of the medical staff report that the symptoms occurred due to prolonged exposure or long working hours around the MRI equipment. They are advised to ensure safety by wearing protective hospital garments, working in regulated durations at the MRI scanner, and taking breaks from the working environment.

What are the accidents and facilities that occur in an MRI environment?

Accidents may occur in an MRI working environment due to high magnetic power of attraction from the equipment. Other accidents that happen in the working environment include heating, implants, and projectiles. Heating occurs as a result of burns from improper positioning of the patient during examination and inappropriate setting of the equipment (McCabe et al., 2015). Accidents from implants occur due to equipment such as aneurism clips which are risky to static patients who are under varying magnetic fields. Leads also present a potential risk to the patients. A projectile is a power of attraction which attracts steel objects to the MRI room, and they enter into the scanner. Some objects are small, and they cause injuries to the patients and staff members.

What are the types of MRI contrast agents and how are they suited for different applications?

MRI contrast agents are used to reduce the amount of relaxation time to reach the required signal intensity and increase the scanning time. The agents are categorized according to specific features such as the chemical composition, administration route, presence of atoms, effect of MR image and the imaging applications. The most commonly used agents are gadolinium and transitional metal manganese. Dysprosium, ferromagnetic agents and superparamagnetic agents are also used in MRI (McCabe et al., 2015). The agents incorporate chelating agents that reduce storage in the body. They also facilitate excretion and eliminate body toxicity. The agents are mainly administered orally. The main categories of contrast agents are extracellular fluids, blood, and organ-specific agents. They have different applications in the MRI scanning process. Some have the capability of distinguishing liver pathologies and some target other organs. Some contrast agents also target specific tumors of the body. The contrast agents can also be used to depict the normal and abnormal flow-related abnormalities of the human body. The main category for the agents is those that are tissue-specific and those that are non-tissue specific. The tissue-specific agents target tissues or organs while non-tissue specific agents go to the intravascular and extravascular spaces in the body.

References

Marrouche, N. F., & Kholmovski, E. G. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,713,436. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

McCabe, S., Scott, J., & Butler, S. (2015, September). Electromagnetic techniques to minimize the risk of hazardous local heating around medical implant electrodes during MRI scanning. In 2015 European Microwave Conference (EuMC)(pp. 702-705). IEEE.

Somers, T., Kania, R., Waterval, J., & Van Havenbergh, T. (2018). What is the Required Frequency of MRI Scanning in the Wait and Scan Management?. J Int Adv Otol, 14(1), 85-9.