Magnet Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an imaging tool that creates detailed, cross-sectional pictures of the inside of the body. Using radiofrequency waves, powerful magnets and a computer, MRI systems are able to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue. MRI plays an important role in cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning. With MRI, we can precisely pinpoint cancerous cells within the body. It is also useful for revealing metastasis, that is, spread of cancer from the part of the body where it started to other parts of the body. During an MRI, a patient rests on a table and slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, an MRI does not use radiation.