Living Well - Winter 2016 - Beaufort - 31

MRI

How it works: Like CT scans,
magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) creates cross-section
images of the body, but it uses
strong magnets and radio waves
rather than radiation to create
the images.
What it's used for: Examining
organs and diagnosing torn
ligaments, tumors, metastatic
cancer, and brain and spinal
cord conditions.
What to expect: You'll lie
on a table, and markers will be
placed on your body with tape to
indicate where the images should
focus. You'll be given earplugs,
as the machine is quite loud during testing. The table will then

slide into the machine's long,
cylindrical opening. The test can
take anywhere from 30 minutes
to two hours, depending on the
images being captured. If you
have any issues with claustrophobia or an inability to lie still
for long periods, tell your doctor.
He or she may prescribe a medication to help you relax or even
order sedation.
"MRI is a good problemsolving tool," Fishman says.
"There's no radiation involved,
and it's very good for looking at
soft-tissue changes-meniscus
tears, ligamentous injuries, spine
and disk disease-as well as cardiac function, vascular issues,
and the brain and spine." ■

WHAT ABOUT THE

RADIATION?

Many people are wary of radiation exposure
from X-rays and CT scans, but the benefits
of imaging tests far outweigh any radiationassociated cancer risks, says Beaufort Memorial
Chief of Radiology Phillip Blalock, MD.
One of the great developments of modern
medicine, medical imaging has revolutionized
diagnosis and treatment, almost eliminating the
need for once-common exploratory surgeries
and other potentially risky procedures.
"The radiation dose from a chest X-ray is
the equivalent of what you get just living on
the planet over the course of a month," Blalock
says. "The human body is engineered to heal
itself from low levels of radiation."
In recent years, advances in the technology
have reduced the amount of radiation exposure needed to create an image. "If you are
concerned about a test, talk to your doctor,"
Blalock advises. "There may be an alternative,
such as an ultrasound or MRI, that does not
expose you to radiation."

WEBSITE

Imaging Tests, Decoded
Don't know the difference between a
CT scan and an MRI? Go to bit.ly/2brm7eY
for an explanation of how different imaging
tests work.

WINTE R 2016

http://www.bit.ly/2brm7eY

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Living Well - Winter 2016 - Beaufort