What are some common clinical indications of MRI?
MRI is commonly used to evaluate patients with neoplastic, infectious, and noninfectious inflammatory disorders and as a problem-solving tool to further characterize abnormalities detected on radiography, US, CT, or PET/CT. It is especially useful for evaluation of the brain and spinal cord, breasts, heart and vasculature, abdominal and pelvic organs, and musculoskeletal soft tissue structures including the bone marrow, as it provides excellent soft tissue contrast. Because MRI does not involve the use of ionizing radiation, it is also used during pregnancy and in the pediatric setting.
