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MRI of abdomen technique
I am wondering, since MRI contrast is potentially damaging/toxic, if abdominal MRI done in powerful closed bore machine, would this compensate for not using contrast? I've heard that for abdomen it is waste of time to do MRI scan w/o contrast. But is this true for closed bore MRI?
It makes no difference whether it is closed bore or not. The imaging principle remains the same.
It is the contrast agent that enhances the images.
While not all MRIs require contrast, it can be very beneficial in certain cases to show certain anatomy more clearly. It improves diagnostic accuracy, especially in cases of certain tumors, blood vessels, inflammation or infection.
MRI contrast agents do not contain iodine and rarely cause allergic reactions or other problems.
It is the contrast agent that enhances the images.
While not all MRIs require contrast, it can be very beneficial in certain cases to show certain anatomy more clearly. It improves diagnostic accuracy, especially in cases of certain tumors, blood vessels, inflammation or infection.
MRI contrast agents do not contain iodine and rarely cause allergic reactions or other problems.
4 Comments
Sorry but your first and third sentences are completely incorrect. 1 - while there is no difference in imaging principle, closed bore MRI use much more powerful magnets that allow for nearly x5 better imaging. This is the fact on which my question was based. 2 - MRI contrast contains gadolinium, which is proven to cause fibrosis. This is why it is not recommended for anyone with kidneys malfunction.
Gadolinium rarely causes problems.
It does put a little stress on the kidneys but that is normally no problem at all for persons with normal functioning kidneys.
The closed bore MI is the standard, the open one is for claustrofobic or obese persons and for extemities and delivers somewhat less quality images.
So if you fit inside the bore, the closed bore is the machine of choice.
Do you have kidney problems?
The radiologist will judge whether the benefit of a good image outweighs the risk of the contrast agent.
Of course the patient can refuse but is that wise when it increases the risk that a good diagnosis is missed?
It does put a little stress on the kidneys but that is normally no problem at all for persons with normal functioning kidneys.
The closed bore MI is the standard, the open one is for claustrofobic or obese persons and for extemities and delivers somewhat less quality images.
So if you fit inside the bore, the closed bore is the machine of choice.
Do you have kidney problems?
The radiologist will judge whether the benefit of a good image outweighs the risk of the contrast agent.
Of course the patient can refuse but is that wise when it increases the risk that a good diagnosis is missed?
OK, fine. We're just walking around. The questions was, if in closed bore MRI images are fine enough to detect abdomen (soft tissue) problems, without using contrast. Vs open MRI (that proliferated because they are cheap) where contrast needed to enhance otherwise lame image
Even in closed bore MRI apparatuses the quality of the images will be significantly less when no contrast agent is used.
"Easy to recognise"-problems may perhaps be seen without contrast, "difficult to see"-problems may remain unnoticed.
"Easy to recognise"-problems may perhaps be seen without contrast, "difficult to see"-problems may remain unnoticed.
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