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Chest magnetic resonance imaging is an examination that is performed extremely rarely. There are other studies in medicine that give a much better picture of the structures that make up this part of the human body. To assess the condition and functioning of the organs within the chest, computed tomography is performed much more frequently. Magnetic resonance imaging is justified only in the case of lung tumors or those that infiltrate the walls of the chest.
What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging?
Magnetic resonance imaging, often also known as MRI or MRI, is a test that allows you to look deep into the human body and analyze both the condition of the bones and soft tissues. This is possible thanks to the magnetic field and radio waves. What does it mean?
The chemical structure of the human body means that when we are placed in a magnetic field, i.e. in a tomograph, which allows us to perform an examination, the tissues of our body will start sending specific, short signals. This is because the protons of hydrogen, which include the water molecule, the main component of our body, begin to arrange parallel to it under the influence of a magnetic field. They then emit waves, which are signals received by the camera, to be processed and reproduced as an image on the computer screen.
Indications for performing magnetic resonance imaging of the chest
Chest MRI is very rarely ordered as preventive examinationwhich is to assess the state of functioning of organs located in this area. Much more often it is done to confirm and evaluate the extent of the lung cancer and those that invade the walls of the chest.
Unfortunately, the necessity to wait several months or even years for the reimbursable magnetic resonance imaging to be performed lung cancer still leads the way when it comes to mortality among Poles struggling with cancer. This is because patients’ ignorance of their symptoms causes them to consult a doctor when the cancer has developed much and is spreading to more organs of the body.
Therefore, if we suffer from chronic, recurrent cough, we are often stuffy, our breathing is shallow and wheezing, hoarseness, fatigue and sudden weight loss appear, we should visit a doctor as soon as possible or perform an MRI of the chest on our own, without waiting several months in line to perform the test.
You can find offers of private facilities where you can perform an MRI of the chest on the website clinics.pl.
Contraindications to performing magnetic resonance imaging of the chest
Unfortunately, performing magnetic resonance imaging is not possible for all of us. There are a number of contraindications that disqualify the patient immediately. These include having:
- orthopedic prostheses of metal;
- metal heart valve;
- neurostymulatora;
- insulin pump;
- pacemaker;
- IUD;
- metal dental prostheses;
- metal shards in the body;
- ear implant.
Performing the test on people whose body contains metal foreign bodies may result in the object being moved to another part of the body, burning the tissues inside the body, or even death.
What is the course of magnetic resonance imaging of the chest?
After qualifying for the examination, i.e. a thorough interview conducted by a doctor, the patient will be asked to insert a mobile phone, payment cards and any jewelry in a special cuvette. The patient should come to the examination on an empty stomach, because during the examination or before the examination, a decision may be made to give the patient a contrast that will allow for a more detailed image of the inside of the chest.
Before the test, make-up should not be applied to the face, and hairspray should not be applied to the hair – these cosmetics may contain metal particles that can distort the image. Since the photo of the clothes is unnecessary for the examination, it is worth choosing a comfortable, airy outfit in which you will feel comfortable on that day.
Thus prepared, the patient will be asked to lie down on a special bed that enters the MRI chamber. Since the examination may take up to several dozen minutes, and during the examination it is not allowed to move or change position, patients are often given sedatives to facilitate its course. It must be remembered that if we suffer from claustrophobia, we must tell the person who will perform the test. Due to the sound produced by the device, the patient is often handed earplugs as well.
After the examination, the patient can safely return to normal activities, although in some patients, especially those who have been given sedatives and tranquilizers, the care of a loved one is very helpful.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the chest – price
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