2021;298(1):28-35. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020202903 Seven doctors gathered around a cadaver studying anatomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. MRI is the most frequently used imaging test of the brain and spinal cord. For instance, a mass in the kidney on an MRI of the lumbar spine may not be familiar to an orthopedic surgeon. You can usually skip this section without worrying too much about it. This section usually lists the information that your ordering provider has listed for the radiologist when they ordered your exam. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551669/, Patients who have had metallic devices surgically placed in their spine, such as pedicle screwsor spinal interbody cages, may have an MRI scan under supervision, but the resolution of the scan is often severely obscured by the metal device and the quality of the imaging study is poor. In: StatPearls [Internet]. A comparison of magnetic and radiographic imaging artifact after using three types of metal rods: stainless steel, titanium, and vitallium. To fully understand the sequences, lets define a couple of terms used in radiology: Combining different values of the Repetition Time and Time to Echo defines the upper mentioned MRI sequences. This can leave you, the patient, lost, having not taken gross anatomy, having not spent thousands of hours in medical school and residency, and frankly, having little reason to know about complex medical terms and conditions. This lets the radiologist know why the study is being done. After MRI builds a map of the tissue types of the scanned area, a computer that is connected to the scanner integrates all of the information using specific mathematical formula, and finally produces 2D and 3D images of the tissue. When it comes to the spine specifically, an MRI can pinpoint the exact location of a pinched nerve, a herniated spinal disc, or the extent of degenerative disc disease in the spine. Learn How Bone Growth Therapy Can Help You, Get a Comprehensive Evaluation from Mayo Clinic's Spine Care Experts, Patients with a history of kidney disease (renal transplant, single kidney, renal cancer), Patients with impaired kidney function may develop nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a serious illness caused by the improper breakdown of the contrast agent in the kidney, Patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension who are receiving treatment with medications. in-dico, pp. An MRI alone cannot be used to see how well a patient is doing; it must always be studied with the patient in mind. To improve the accuracy of MRI comparison, it is best to get the studies completed at the same location. Patients are encouraged to ask their healthcare provider for explanations or clarification if they have any questions about their report, but it helps to show up prepared. The more detailed the indications the more helpful. 6 If there is any doubt about the safety of an MRI, other imaging techniques, such as CT scan, may be used. The multiplicative term by which faster imaging pulse sequences such as multiple echo imaging reduce total imaging time compared to conventional imaging sequences such as spin echo imaging. Mathur M, Jones JR, Weinreb JC. Incorrect indications can have consequences for insurance and treatment purposes. MRI creates images by distinguishing between the nuclear magnetic properties of various tissues, a property that makes MRI capable for very precise tissue differentiation. For instance, you have pain in your foot and an MRI shows several possible reasons for the pain. When you put a patient in a strong magnetic field, their hydrogen ions align in the direction of the magnetic field. These reports tend to consist of a lot of medical terminology that may look like a foreign language to a patient with no medical training. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Two Level Cervical Disc Replacement (Mobi-C), Middle Back Pain Oftentimes Tied To Heavy Electronics Use, What to Do if Your Back Hurts When Bending Over, Preventing Back Pain When Training For A Triathlon. Get instant access to this gallery, plus: Introduction to the musculoskeletal system, Nerves, vessels and lymphatics of the abdomen, Nerves, vessels and lymphatics of the pelvis, Infratemporal region and pterygopalatine fossa, Meninges, ventricular system and subarachnoid space, What Is an MRI? Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Suffering from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? A brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, also called a head MRI, is a painless procedure that produces very clear images of the structures inside of your head mainly, your brain. On this site, Dr. Sinicropi periodically provides assessments and commentary on specific procedures that individuals have undergone. Without the full history the radiologist may give several diagnostic possibilities for the fluid: infection, inflammation, trauma, cancer! Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam that produces detailed images of the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems, including the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and pancreatic duct. Fully interpreting the results of your MRI requires the aid of a qualified physician or MRI radiologist. The lungs are otherwise clear. If you are still having difficulty, and something seems to be lost in the translation, it may be time to have a radiologist explain the pictures to you directly, so that you can best understand what everything means. An MRA exam may or may not use contrast material. The impression of a report is therefore the last part of the report. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. Comparisons usually involve exams of the same body area and exam type. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas. This is where the radiologist describes the exact way the test was performed, the field of view, whether or not IV contrast material was administered, etc. Individuals should always consult a licensed and qualified health care provider for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment recommendations regarding their specific spine or other medical problems. 2 What's in My MRI Report? Decoding Common Terminology ohTe. At this point you may be thinking, this is some pretty sophisticated stuff and Im not sure I can really trust myself to go through the report and make sense of everything. However, the presence of certain implants or prostheses may interfere with the MRI process, making it a health risk. There are many reasons that your exact clinical situation may not have been adequately conveyed to the radiologist reading your exam (I wont go into them here). Indications from the emergency room may be things like fall, car accident, or fight. Magnetic resonance angiography-also called a magnetic resonance angiogram or MRA-is a type of MRI that looks specifically at the body's blood vessels. Once the report is complete, the radiologist signs it, and sends the report to your physician. 2019;46(1):96-97. doi:10.5999/aps.2018.01466, Ibrahim MA, Hazhirkarzar B, Dublin AB. These materials (discussed below) are strongly attracted to magnets and may get dislodged or overheated, causing serious health risks to the patient. tion. Sometimes a misspelling becomes an error of fact. As you read the findings section, try to understand each line and how it relates to your own symptoms and personal medical history (because you, after all, know these things better than anyone else). After comparing the properties of emitted signals from tissue that is filmed to the values of the normal tissue, it is easier to conclude if those tissues are undergoing some pathological process. x]eq@]`FC6FC@a\s-{gcmy+N5agy5N5Br]FF5kjcv5,aejT#T#?]}VeFeU}Ve2VJUj,5xY~.rU/"#UB#vWa+E}*UQUY2WjDexydAU{jU=pvRTZ4l^kF}ye9;W82gN2TOEHjE ?U-juHy(:"Q_]zh5]{p5K]#i5tD8U[urZ Yj(S#j,S5nwe#EGt /fU#kDWWYk#F-OF)QvVKH-YUn_kW-Vj:X\EvZ]#Qkdi5VOkkNGZUjY>j%oY3VjvPVrmj?rjZjuJG?ItD8EZ?bJ+{ZjZ=ZZV23j\jvqQRZK+:kDFwl^k y6Y?qO^Gd6m^jhyoy?X6uDp:kwDpQcyaf[2i8enxjU/}^}~/{?_)x~^!/_xy_V/mO75&z-?^pU3|F>#g3|N>'_q5"Ey.u1q]b\|B>!\\9yH!w?uAnM7Yd}M7u8u:N>'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'_/{W+xxxxxgs x~s.x{\AAAAAAI}}}}}}}}}}}}}?yB'''''''''''oooq77777777777~_______ppppwwwwwwwg=Nv0. The goal is to try to cull through the cacophony of medical jargon and get to what you really want to know: Does this test tell me what is wrong with me? If readers want details they can refer to the descriptive section of the report. [Updated 2022 May 8]. Because it is used for documentation purposes, this section is not typically useful for you or your doctor. These contraindications include but are not limited to Gadolinium deposition and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: a radiologists primer. Then, they can use that information to recommend the most effective treatment options for the patient. For back or neck pain, MRI scans are a preferred diagnostic tool for investigating musculoskeletal problems with or without neurologic deficits when previous imaging is suggestive of spinal pathology. It is primarily used to assess injuries. This is where all of the findings are synthesized into a coherent diagnosis (or, in many cases, more than one diagnosis). A radiologist answers your questions. These professionals are trained to read and analyze an MRI report. : In some cases, blood work may be ordered to help analyze the kidney function and determine if it can metabolize and filter gadolinium if the agent is injected into the body. Radiology 2018; 00:1-2. What is The Impression In A Report - Radiology In Plain English In: StatPearls [Internet]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482487/, The FDA determines the MRI contrast agent, gadolinium, as a class C agent, which means that there is no established evidence regarding its safety during pregnancy. Each sequence has its own advantages and disadvantages. A Wall Street Journal article,Radiologists Push for Medical Reports Patients Can Understand,gets at the crux of the issue: Radiology reports are written for other medical professionals and not for the general public. 1021 0 obj<>stream Copyright 6 Reading time: 17 minutes. It is where the radiologist gives his conclusion and most likely diagnosis. to find definitions for other uncommon terms. An MRI scan may be used to diagnose, further investigate, and/or plan the treatment of neck pain or back pain that fulfills one or more of the following criteria: MRI scans may also be used to view postsurgical healing of tissues. This is common when you have imaging tests done at different facilities or hospitals. Online access to your health records may help you make more informed decisions about your healthcare. MRI of the brain and spinal cord. Part 2. 3 0 obj When hydrogen protons are exposed to a strong magnetic field, such as the one of the MRI scanner, most of them will align with that field. for patients awaiting their results. And I would take the WSJ articles argument one step further in many cases, the medical professionals cant even understand the reports! For example, it is more helpful to know that the right 11th rib is tender rather then just pain or rib pain. The more protons one specific tissue has, the final image will be lighter, and tissues with less protons will give darker image. When you get the test results from your physician, and you dont quite understand what the results mean, take a look at the report yourself. Discuss the fees associated with your prescribed procedure with your doctor, the medical facility staff and/or your insurance provider to get a better understanding of the possible charges you will incur. For an abnormal finding, the radiologist may recommend: For a potentially abnormal finding, the radiologist may make any of the above recommendations. PDF Glossary of MRI Terms - ACR Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the inside of your body. What does indication mean on an mri report - Wifje Hackenbroch C, Wafa M, Klinger S, Mauer UM. Unlike a traditional angiogram, which requires inserting a catheter into the body, magnetic resonance angiography is a far less invasive and less painful test.