The brain is one of the most vital organs of the human body. It works as the controlling system of the human body. The brain cells are known as neurons. However, if damaged once, these neurons are never replaced by new cells leading to neurological issues in the person.
An MRI is used to scan the brain and observe the health and damage that the neurons may have incurred. In the case of persistent headaches or dizziness and injuries to the skull, a brain MRI can be used to diagnose diseases. The doctor treating you uses the examination to create cross-sectional images of the skull and brain, which are then analyzed. It is possible to do a brain MRI with and without contrast.
Head MRI – causes and reasons
In neurology and also in ENT medicine, people often opt for a brain MRI. It is possible to perform brain MRIs with and without contrast. Brain MRI is to diagnose the growth and development of brain disease or damage, i.e. when the patient has symptoms that indicate disease.
Accordingly, medical threats can be found and treated at an early enough stage. Experts use this examination for acute illnesses in the patient or medical emergencies, such as a stroke or an accident. Experts use head MRI to examine the following symptoms or illnesses:
- Recurring severe headaches such as migraines
- Dizziness
- balance
- Narrowed blood vessels due to deposits (can lead to a stroke)
- Stroke
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s
- Brain tumor
- hemorrhage
- Symptoms in the jaw and jaw joint
- Head injuries
Read more about: what does unremarkable MRI of the brain mean?
Brain MRI – What Is The Procedure?
Like all MRI examinations, a brain MRI runs according to a uniform principle: The examination device is a tube into which the lying patient slowly moves. A computer then creates the recordings. In contrast to X-rays, these are cross-sectional images of the body.
It is crucial for usable recordings that the head lies as still as possible during the MRI examination, which is why the examiner uses pillows or a rigid foam splint to fix it. Unfortunately, for many patients, this security has a threatening effect. Last but not least, the narrow tube, the fixation, and the loud knocking noises of the device create fear.
On request, patients can also receive sedatives from the doctor in advance, which have a relaxing effect. MRI produces images by using a magnetic resonance device. This device is a specific tube-shaped tomograph. Electrical coils in the tube produce radio waves and a magnetic field approximately 10,000 to 50,000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field. At the end, they label these results as resonance.
Depending on the brain tissue’s condition, it pours different signals back. Later, using these signals, the machine produces graphic displays and images. On the other hand, this method makes many tomographic images of the brain visible. It is also possible to inspect the images through different angles and views, giving additional helpful tools regarding the diagnosis. In this way, the medical expert can view organs from different perspectives. Also, this helps in identifying indications of possible diseases.
Research On Brain MRI With Or Without Contrast
The Federal Association of German Nuclear Medicine Physicians assumes that they carry out additional administration of a contrast agent of around 2.4 to 3 million MRIs. The process uses a water-soluble contrast medium in which gadolinium, iron oxides, and manganese compounds serve as the contrast-giving substance. In the magnetic field of the MRI machine, these metals generate a stronger signal, and pathological tissue changes stand out in the images.
The examiner injects gadolinium contrast media into the patient’s arm or groin. Patients can also drink contrast agents with iron oxide or manganese. They are mainly used to examine the gastrointestinal tract.
The agents used differ in their chemical and physical structure. For example, there are contrast agents with a chain-like (linear) structure and agents with a ring-shaped (macrocyclic) structure. The kidneys excrete the MRI contrast medium again.
MRI of the brain without contrast medium has been one of the safe and reliable imaging methods in medical diagnostics for several decades. In many cases, simple magnetic resonance imaging is sufficient to give the doctor a good impression of the tissue structures.
Since common contrast agents can be stressful for the body, doctors are also researching alternatives. For example, scientists at the German Cancer Research Center and the Heidelberg University Hospital have succeeded in depicting brain tumors with the help of dextrose (glucose). This MRI method takes advantage of the fact that tumors have a very high energy requirement and absorb a corresponding amount of sugar. If the glucose gets into the tumor cells, the examiner observes sugar metabolism using a special method in a high-field tomograph.
MRI With Contrast Medium – Possible Side Effects
Healthy people generally tolerate MRI contrast media well. In some situations, mild side effects such as a feeling of warmth and cold. However, some patients have reported tingling in the extremities. The contrast agent may cause headaches, general malaise, or skin irritation.
In rare cases, the contrast medium triggers allergic reactions. These usually manifest as slight reddening of the skin at the injection site. With the administration of effective antidotes, the symptoms quickly disappear again. They well advised patients with known intolerance to MRI contrast media to consult their doctor. A brain MRI scan using gadolinium can lead to poisoning with heavy metal as a side effect. If it used to be assumed that the drug was harmless, today, more and more patients suffer from poisoning. See the Risks section for more information.
CONCLUSION
Magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, usually provides very clear images of tissue structures. Certain medical issues, however, make it necessary to administer a contrast medium. Muscles and blood vessels look very similar on MRI, for example. As a result, the MRI contrast agent allows doctors to better differentiate between the individual tissue types. The contrast medium also makes it easier to identify areas of inflammation and tumors.
A brain MRI with or without contrast often is necessary for diagnostics. The advantage of a brain MRI without contrast is that it avoids many possible complications, but a brain MRI with contrast is generally mostly safe. Patients who fear allergic reactions to gadolinium or other contrast mediums should have a check-up before their brain MRI.