Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner uses strong magnetic fields and gradients, and radio waves to generate images with the following uniqueness.

• As an ionizing radiation-free imaging modality, MRI is particularly useful for patients who need regular scanning for close monitoring of disease progression.
• The basis of MRI is the directional magnetic field generated by many free hydrogen nuclei inside a human body. When a human body is placed in a uniform magnetic field, the free hydrogen nuclei align with the magnetic field and create a net magnetic moment. The response signal is then captured by conductive field coils placed around and possessed to obtain multi-planar 3D MR images for precise diagnosis.

Comparing with other imaging modalities, MRI provides superior tissue contrast resolution, and therefore is frequently used to assess areas such as the brain, spine, ligament, joints, muscles, heart, blood vessels, breast, abdomen and pelvis. With regards to the diagnosis of cancer, MRI localises the lesion, differentiates benign from malignant soft tissue tumour of some kinds, and detects metastasis if necessary. Apart from assisting doctors make treatment plan, MRI is also used to monitor tumour progression during the entire course of treatment.

• Cerebral vascular disease and cerebral tumor
• Artery disease (including angioma, atherosclerosis causing partial or total occlusion of blood vessels and others)
• Heart disease (including ischemic heart disease, myocardial disease, congenital heart disease and others)
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Skeletal joint and soft tissue disease
• Vertebral column and sports injury
• Kidney and kidney vascular disease
• Cancer
• Hepatobiliary disease
• Gynecologic and breast disease

Advantages of MRI:

• Non-invasive and does not use ionizing radiation
• Particularly useful for the scanning and detection of abnormalities in soft tissue structures in the body, such as ligaments and cartilage, soft organs such as the brain, heart and eyes.
• Can provide information about how the blood moves through certain organs and blood vessels, allowing problems with blood circulation, such as blockages, to be identified.
• Possess high ability to differentiate tissue structures. The current accuracy of MRI is generally superior to both CT scan and ultrasound scanning.