You might have heard about MRI scans out there. Most people usually go for this scan from time to time; children and adults can go for it to treat various health issues. It is essential to know what an MRI entails and who can help you undergo this scan successfully. First and foremost, MRI refers to Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This scan is not painful for the majority of patients. However, if you have a spinal injury or a shoulder injury, you might experience some pain when undergoing this scan. The procedure does not cause the pain, but rather it is caused by the injury of the affected part. In most instances, the patient normally lies down on a flatbed that slides in and out of the MRI cylinder. The person who helps you undergo this scan is a specialist in this area. In this case, you will find a doctor or a radiologist who will help you undergo this scan successfully.
The doctor who helps you undergo this scan usually plays an important role. You will note that this equipment needs special handling as it is expensive and can get damaged if it is not well taken care of. A radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases that require you to undergo medical imaging techniques such as MRI, X-rays, computed tomography, and so on. These techniques usually involve radiation and need one to be competent to understand radiation safety and protection during the whole process. The following are the roles of a doctor and radiologist in MRI:
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1. Acts as an expert consultant.
This professional is usually well-trained on how to interpret different images obtained after conducting the MRI scan. Your physician of choice might not be able to understand these images on his own. Therefore in this case, a radiologist can help interpret them and use the test results to direct your care. This way, you can trust that you will get helped in the long run. In this case, a radiologist works as a consultant.
2. Helps to detect various diseases.
MRI scans can help to detect various diseases. You will note that simple medical tests cannot help to detect serious conditions such as cancer. You therefore need to be scanned from time to time in order to find out if you may have some of these conditions. This can help you know the extent of the disease and thereby help the referring doctor understand how to diagnose and treat it.
3. Helps to conduct tests to patients before the actual MRI scanning starts.
Different patients usually have different issues. Some of them might have had various health issues in the past before coming for the scan. Others might have metallic objects in their bodies before coming for the scan. Ideally, these metallic objects should be removed before one goes for scanning. This is because these objects are known to interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit. In fact, if you have some pieces of jewelry, hearing aids, body piercings, and even tracking devices, you have to remove to them before going for this scan. This professional usually checks for these items before finally allowing you to get scanned. This expert might ask whether you have been ill in the past in order to know whether to use MRI with contrast or without contrast when scanning you.
There are people who have had a history of kidney failure, liver disease, or even a kidney transplant. Some patients usually go for MRI scanning when they are pregnant. This can lead to further problems if you fail to notify the radiologist early in advance. This expert will ask the radiology technologists to check these issues before allowing you to go for scanning.
4. Sedating small kids.
You might have a small kid that needs to be scanned using an MRI. Sometimes, this kid might be stubborn and thereby hinder the radiologist from getting quality images during the scan. In this case, this specialist has to sedate the kid so that he or she can remain still during the whole process. Your child will fall asleep and get scanned well thereafter. However, if you have bigger kids, they might not necessarily need to get sedated. This is only ideal for small kids who might be stubborn during MRI scanning.
5. Updating the patient’s record.
A patient might need to visit a radiology center a number to times in a year. The radiologist should ensure that he updates the radiology records so that other doctors can be able to know how to deal with that issue. This helps to enhance consistency.
It is true to say that a radiologist is essential in MRI scanning. You will note that these experts usually work hard to ensure that the diagnostic tests or scans are safe. This is the reason why they often ask you whether you have metallic implants in your body. However, if you have teeth braces, they might not interfere with the scanning process. This specialist can also help to correlate medical image findings with other examinations and tests. He or she can still recommend further examinations or treatments when they are necessary. You, therefore, need to get the services of this professional so that he can diagnose various diseases.
A radiologist is well trained on how to take images of various parts of the body. He or she can take the images of your chest, breast, leg, hand, and so on. Sometimes, these professionals can take images of the brain in order to determine whether there is a tumor or not. They are more conversant on how to use the MRI machine than other doctors. This can assure you that you will get value for your money. You are likely to find these experts in radiology centers and in different hospitals. Go for MRI scanning today so that professional radiologists and doctors can scan your body and come up with a radiology report for other doctors to review.
