Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Developed in the late 1970s, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced diagnostic procedure that produces detailed images of internal bodily structures without using X-rays or other type of radiation. MR images are produced by using a large, high-powered magnet, radiowaves and a computer. This technology allows physicians to detect diseases or abnormalities in preliminary stages of development. More recent MRI technologies are capable of producing cross-sectional images less than a millimeter in thickness, with such resolutions producing superior detail of internal structures including spine, joints, brain and other vital organs.