What Exactly Does an MRI Show?

MRI machines are very effective in providing detailed images of the soft tissues and organs throughout the entire body. MRIs can be completed by focusing on specific parts of the body, such as the brain, the blood vessels and heart, the brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, the breasts, and other internal organs. The images produced by MRI machines are high-resolution, allowing healthcare providers to identify a wide range of conditions, illnesses, injuries, or diseases. They can show the presence, size, and exact location of tumors, blood clots, infections, injuries, and other types of abnormalities in all of the previously mentioned parts of the body. The images provided can also show how the organs or other soft tissues are functioning, if there are any structural problems or damage, inflammation, and abnormalities of the density of some tissues, such as breast tissues (which is indicative of cancerous tissues).

Both MRIs and CT (computed tomography) scans provide healthcare providers with vital information about their patient’s bodies without having to perform any invasive exploratory procedures to see the same areas. They do this by capturing images of the specified body parts to provide accurate visualization of the tissues, organs, and bones. They differ in that CT scans use X-ray technology to produce images that accurately show the structures of the bones, tissues, and organs, whereas MRIs use radio waves to provide detailed images of abnormal tissues. The CT scan is the best option for showing issues of the joints and bones, as well as some specific organ injuries and blood clots, whereas MRI scans will show more accurate images of nerve or spinal problems, issues with the soft tissues, torn ligaments, and inflammation. Essentially, they are both essential diagnostic tools that can capture accurate images of many parts of the body but will be used to diagnose different specific problems depending on the location and type of condition that is suspected to be causing symptoms.

MRIs are typically the best diagnostic imaging tool to show inflammation within the soft tissues or bone marrow as it is very sensitive in detecting inflammation. It is often considered to be one of the best means to detect inflammation that is caused by different types of arthritis, even better than an x-ray or a physical examination. Inflammation that is present in the body will show up on the MRI images as large solid areas of gray or white, obstructing movement or applying pressure on joints. The fluid that develops with inflammation will show up as solid white, making it visible through MRI images. Patients who are taking anti-inflammatory medication will need to stop taking the medication at least three days before the MRI is performed as the medication will reduce swelling in the affected area, making it difficult for the physician to accurately see what the problem is within the body.

MRIs can diagnose a wide range of conditions, including injuries, infections, and inflammation, helping healthcare providers determine likely causes of symptoms in their patients, including pain. While MRIs can help to narrow down the potential cause of pain, and the location in which the pain is being experienced, this is dependent on there being a visible indication of pain, such as injury or inflammation. Invisible pain is pain that is unable to be detected through diagnostic imaging because it does not yet result in a physical indication of the pain, whereas pain experienced due to a physical change in the body, such as inflammation, tissue damage, or growth, will be diagnosable by imaging tests such as an MRI. Diagnosing invisible pain will rely on descriptions of pain levels, the precise location of the pain, and any other associated symptoms or an external factor that may have contributed to the pain.

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