Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a test that allows doctors to view complex color images of any part of the body.
The large machines used for MRI are very expensive are require specially equipped rooms. Valuable in identifying structural problems present in the human body, or developing fetus, MRI is still not used very much in pregnancy since ultrasound can offer most of the same diagnostic capability in a more convenient, portable package that is far cheaper to operate.
MRI machines look like a giant eight foot cube containing large magnets, with an opening in the front. The patient lies on a bed that slides into the machine, which is operated by technicians at a separate console. The human body, which consists mostly of water and hydrogen atoms, is placed in a magnetic field and surrounded by radio waves. The hydrogen atoms in the body then emit a faint radio signal that is processed by a computer to create an image. Different tissues in the body contain varying amounts of water, which are easily distinguished on the screen as bone, fat and muscle.
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Magnetic resonance imaging is used by doctors to diagnose many structural issues including cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. In obstetrics it can be used to identify some birth defects in the developing fetus.
There are no reports of adverse effects resulting from the use of magnetic resonance imaging in pregnancy. Most doctors avoid the use of MRI during the first trimester of fetal development to ensure the safety of the fetus.
If you need magnetic resonance imaging and are not yet pregnant, then the test should be scheduled before you conceive. Testing during pregnancy is usually not recommended during the first trimester.
MRI is a diagnostic tool. A doctor specializing in radiology and trained in the use of magnetic resonance imaging will interpret the images.
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