What is an MRI?

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a safe and simple procedure for the production of bodily images. The response of the atomic nuclei of body tissues is measured to high-frequency radio waves by placing the body in a strong magnetic field. Ever since its creation, doctors have thrived to improve MRI techniques to assist with medical trials and research.

An MRI scanner resembles a tube that a massive circular magnet surrounds. The patient’s position themselves on a portable bed, which then goes into the scanner through the big hole of the magnet.

A single MRI image is a slice. It’s a picture of a cross-section of tissue. Just like a slice of bread is a cross-section of the whole bread. One particular MRI scan can contain hundreds of slices. These pictures can be kept on a computer from where they could be converted into 3D images of the scanned area.

Cervical Spine

The cervical spine is a medical term for the neck. It is a structure of bones, nerves, muscles, and tissues bound together. The cervical spine houses the spinal cord in the body. It consists of 7 adjoining bones called vertebrae which are usually branded as C1 through C7. The top of the cervical spine links with the brain while the bottom connects with the upper body.

Roles of Cervical Spine

• Protects the spinal cord
• Supports the movement of the head
• Assists in blood flow to the brain

Movements of Cervical Spine

The cervical spine is the most movable zone of the body. The motions of the head and neck are generally in one or more actions as follows:

• Flexion
• Extension
• Rotation
• Cross flexion

Cervical MRI

A cervical MRI helps to scan soft tissues of the part of the spine that runs through the neck area. It is relatively safer than other procedures since it does not involve radiation like x-rays.

Medical Diagnoses

A cervical MRI helps to diagnose the following:

• Evasive tumors in your bones or tissues.
• Swollen or Herniated disks.
• Aneurysm (bulge in blood vessels) or other vascular ailments.
• Bone deformities or joint disorders

Purpose of Cervical MRI scan

The general use of cervical spine MRI is to detect the cause of neck pain by imaging soft tissues of the neck. It usually follows failed basic treatment. Doctors might also recommend the scan if the pain carries certain numbness or weakness.

A cervical scan can highlight:

• Innate spinal deformities,
• Infections around the spine,
• Injuries to the spine,
• Scoliosis (curvature of the spine),
• Cancers or tumors in the spine.

Procedure

Before the procedure begins, the medical staff removes all metallic objects from the vicinity. Occasionally, some patients get a sedative to overcome anxiety and to make themselves comfortable. For sharp accuracy, doctors advise patients to lie still.

A radiologist from an adjoining control room monitors the patient while they lie inside a closed environment of the scanner. Communication with the MRI technician is continual throughout the operation. A signaling device comes into play for this purpose. The acting technician places the device on the patient’s hand which allows them to call for help if the situation demands it.

Continuous clicking noises during MRI imaging are common. To distract you from the noise, music is usually playing in the background. For precise MRI imaging, an attendant puts a frame called ‘coil’ over the patient’s head and on the neck.  At times, patients require doses of liquid intravenously to enhance the images.

Once the patient is properly lying on the machine, the moveable bed will slide into the closed space carrying the patient. The MRI scanning time depends on the area of the body that the machine is scanning. It ranges from half an hour to two.

Fortunately, medical institutes generally perform MRI scans as an outpatient procedure. This means that the patient does not need to spend a night in the hospital. Day-to-day activities can continue after the cervical MRI. However, if the patient has had a sedative during the scan, their accompanying friend must remain close by for 24 hours.

MRI Scan for Children

Toddlers and young children often require special precautionary measures for cervical MRI scans. As the procedure requires an individual to lie still in a closed environment, the doctors give children some kind of sedation or anesthesia. However, it depends on the child’s intellectual growth.

Some facilities have trained professionals who help children cope with their MRI scans. They prepare children by utilizing MRI scanner dummies and mimic the sounds that are audible during the real procedure. This personnel also answer any queries young children might have as a result, it helps in reducing anxiety. In some institutes, medical staff present children with goggles or headsets so they can watch a movie while lying completely still. As a result, the imaging procedure is very effective.

Does the Cervical MRI Pose Any Threat?

According to medical imaging experts, the cervical MRI scan is harmless since it does not involve any kind of radiation. The use of magnetic fields and radio waves has not pose any health risks in recorded history. However, an allergic reaction is possible due to the usage of contrast dye during the MRI scan.

The important thing to keep in mind is that a cervical MRI scanner produces a powerful magnetic field. It would react to any metallic object it meets. Therefore, it is necessary to inform the doctor if you have one of the following things:

• A metal implant,
• A cardiac pacemaker,
• Piercings are made of metal or iron.
• A piece of shrapnel,
• A cochlear implant (for hearing).

You would be ineligible for an MRI scan if you possess a metal in your body or if you are expecting. In those cases, the doctor might prescribe a CT scan. A CT scan is significantly different from an MRI scan of the cervical. The cervical MRI scan deals with problems relating to the spine, muscles, or soft tissues, whereas a CT scan helps identify bone-related issues. If the doctor orders a cervical CT scan, he or she may intend to study the bones or blood vessels in your neck, instead of the spine.

Additional side effects of an MRI scan are purely psychological. Because a cervical scan requires one to lie in an enclosed space, some patients might experience a claustrophobic sensation throughout the procedure. If the patient has any history of claustrophobia, they must notify the doctor on duty. A mild sedative sometimes aids in soothing the feeling before the scan.

Results of Cervical MRI Scan

After the completion of an MRI scan, the computer generates visual pictures of the area that the machine was scanning during the procedure. The printer can then convert those images into hard copies. Since a radiologist specializes in interpreting body images, he presents the analysis in the form of a report and transmits it to the doctor who requested the MRI scan. The result of any MRI Elizabeth NJ scan usually takes 24 hours.

Innovation in MRI Scan

Researchers are working hard to develop innovative MRI scanners that are handier to operate. These novel detectors will be able to identify even those tumors that the doctors term as ‘grossly unremarkable’. These tumors are generally present in the soft tissues of the hands, feet, and knees. The application of these innovative scanners has entered beta testing.