When Is An MRI Requested?

MRI is often requested when other conventional imaging techniques, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, have not yielded the type of information your physician needs to complete his diagnosis.

MRI is used to:

Rule out certain conditions

Pinpoint exactly where in the body a problem is

Diagnose certain diseases

402 Bowman Gray Drive
Greenville, NC 27834

(252) 752-9000
1-800-849-7226

The Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell in 1952 for their discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance, laid the groundwork for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). On July 3, 1977, Drs. Raymond Damadian, Larry Minkoff and Michael Goldsmith realized the culmination of seven years of research. Producing the first MRI image on a human being took almost five hours. This breakthrough revolutionized the medical community. Five years after the introduction, there was a limited number of MRI scanners in the United States. Today there are thousands, and MRI imaging can now be done in a matter of minutes, instead of hours.

MRI machine designs are based on a giant cube. A horizontal tube runs through the magnet from front to back, and this tube is known as the bore of the magnet. MRI of Eastern Carolina uses a large, short bore device, which reduces claustrophobia. A special feature at MRI of Eastern Carolina is a large window in the imaging room, letting in additional light and warmth, which further assists in putting the patient at ease.

The MRI system can aid in the diagnosis of many injuries and diseases because the exam parameters can be altered or tailored, allowing the physician to view tissue in different appearances. Each MRI lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.

MRI's are read by a physician specially trained to interpret the information in magnetic resonance images. MRI of Eastern Carolina has in-house neuro-imagers and neuro-radiologists, who provide precise results.