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Home › Diagnosis › Looking at the Brain

MRI

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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was first introduced in the United States in the early 1980s. It is the most important neuroimaging test in epilepsy because it shows more details of the brain's structure than does the cat scan. MRI does not use x-rays. Instead, it uses a powerful magnet to change the spin on atomic particles in the body. Then it measures the changes in the magnetic field as the particles resume their previous course. This is safe and you will not feel anything while it is happening. (See photos of the MRI procedure.)

MRI produces a remarkably accurate representation of the brain's structure. The images are extremely helpful for identifying scar tissue, areas of abnormal brain development (dysplasia), small brain tumors, blood vessel abnormalities, and changes in the brain's white matter.

Topic Editor:Ruben Kuzniecky, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 10/17/06


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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was first introduced in the United States in the early 1980s. It is the most important neuroimaging test in epilepsy because it shows more details of the brain's structure than does the cat scan. MRI does not use x-rays. Instead, it uses a powerful magnet to change the spin on atomic particles in the body. Then it measures the changes in the magnetic field as the particles resume their previous course. This is safe and you will not feel anything while it is happening. (See photos of the MRI procedure.)

MRI produces a remarkably accurate representation of the brain's structure. The images are extremely helpful for identifying scar tissue, areas of abnormal brain development (dysplasia), small brain tumors, blood vessel abnormalities, and changes in the brain's white matter.

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MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, magnet, indications
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