Magnetic resonance imaging

(MRI); imaging technology that uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field rather than ionising irradiation to provide remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues

Description
The procedure of MRI is valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions in all parts of the body, including heart and vascular disease, stroke, cancer and joint and musculoskeletal disorders. MRI is unique in that it can also create detailed images of blood vessels without the use of contrast material (although there is a trend toward the use of special non-iodinated MRI contrast material, for example, gadolinium). MRI requires specialized equipment and expertise and allows evaluation of some body structures that may not be as visible with other imaging methods. The MRI technique is based on studies of nuclear magnetic resonance and was therefore originally coined nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).