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Medicine vocabulary · Diagnosis and Tests

MRI

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˌem ɑːr ˈaɪ/abbreviationCommon term

In medicine, MRI means: Short for magnetic resonance imaging: a scan that uses a strong magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures, especially of the brain, spine, joints and soft tissues.

In Turkish: MR, manyetik rezonans görüntüleme

How it is used

Doctors request an MRI or MRI scan of a body part ('an MRI of the lumbar spine'). Before the scan, patients are checked for pacemakers and metal implants. It takes longer than CT, and some patients feel claustrophobic.

Example sentences

  1. The MRI showed a disc bulge pressing on the nerve root.

  2. Do you have a pacemaker or any metal in your body? We need to know before the MRI.

Common collocations

  • MRI scan
  • brain MRI
  • MRI with contrast
  • request an MRI
  • CT scanA scan that uses X-rays taken from many angles and a computer to build detailed cross-section pictures of the body. CT stands for computed tomography.
  • ultrasoundA scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to make live pictures of organs, blood vessels or a baby in the womb, without using radiation.
  • X-rayAn image of the inside of the body made with a type of radiation that passes through soft tissue but is blocked by bone and other dense structures.
  • investigationA test or examination, such as a blood test or a scan, done to find the cause of a patient's problem or to check their condition.
  • strokeSudden damage to part of the brain caused by a blocked blood vessel or by bleeding, which can cause weakness, speech problems or loss of vision.

More terms: Diagnosis and Tests

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.