Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe and painless test that produces clear cross-sectional or three-dimensional images of the body’s tissues, even through bone and other obstructions. Because of its safety and clarity, MRI is a valuable tool that can aid in the diagnosis of a wide range of neurological conditions, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease
  
• Brain and spinal cord tumors
  
• Dystonia
  
• Epilepsy
  
• Muscular dystrophy
  
• Multiple sclerosis
  
• Stroke
  
• Tourette syndrome

Neurosurgeons often use MRI to evaluate a patient’s spinal cord following an acute injury or trauma. In addition, MRI is used to plan surgery, radiation therapy, stroke treatment and other interventions associated with brain and nervous system disorders.

To gather information about various conditions affecting the body, including those causing neurological problems, physicians will use different types of MRI scanners, including standard MRI, short-bore MRI and open MRI.

Typically, MRI is an outpatient test performed at a hospital or clinic. Patients should closely follow their physician’s recommendations in preparing for the test.

During the procedure, the patient is placed on a long bed that slides into an MRI chamber. Once inside the chamber, patients are asked to relax and lie still for the duration of the procedure. Patients will need to hold their breath at times. The MRI equipment will make many types of noises during the scan as it takes multiple views of the target site. These noises are a normal part of the MRI procedure. A nurse or technician will periodically make sure that the patient is comfortable and able to continue.

Because the MRI test relies on a large magnetic field, patients with implanted devices such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and vagus nerve stimulators should avoid the test. Pregnant women should generally avoid MRIs because the risk to the fetus is unknown, although no definitive proof of detriment to the fetus has been demonstrated.