Not all MRIs are the same
Most people have heard of an MRI or magnetic resonance imaging but do not know that there are many different kinds of MRIs. MRI does not use radiation like computed tomography or CT. Instead, MRI uses powerful magnets and radiofrequency currents to obtain images of human anatomy. Contrast may be used to increase image brightness. MRI is better for imaging non-bony structures or soft tissues like the brain.
There are numerous types of MRIs with varying sensitivity levels and advanced techniques designed to look at different structural components and functions of the brain.
The different kinds of MRIs include T1 and T2 weighted imaging, 3.0 Tesla (3T) or next generation 7T and Connectome scanners, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), functional MRIs (fMRI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and arterial spine labelling (ASL). Not all these techniques are available on clinical scanners and may only be available to highly specialized research facilities. Some of these techniques are more sensitive than others and look at different brain components or functions. Generally, for example, T1 looks at volumetric changes, MRS detects metabolic changes and measures neuronal function, SWI identifies microbleeds, FLAIR detects traumatic axonal injury and white matter hyperintensities, DTI measures water movement in axons and myelin, fMRI measures regional cerebral oxygenation, blood flow, and volume, and ASL assesses cerebral perfusion by quantifying cerebral blood flow.
Understanding these differences about imaging and how imaging plays a role in diagnosing and proving traumatic brain injury is vital to protecting the legal rights of brain injury victims and our clients. We are committed to working with expert radiologists and neuroradiologists and staying knowledgeable about the latest in brain imaging science to protect our client’s rights.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our legal services and how our focus in brain injury and bicycle injury cases matters, please get in touch with us via our contact page at Contact Us.
If you found this post helpful, you might also like to explore the other topics listed below and the many other topics in our comprehensive Safety & Prevention Guide, Brain Injury Guide, and Bike Injury Guide.
