Functional MR Imaging (fmri)

What is fMRI?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a procedure that uses MR imaging to measure the quick, tiny metabolic changes that take place in an active part of the brain. So, in other words fMRI is a process that uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at your brain. So, how does MRI work? MRI uses radio waves and a fairly strong magnetic field, instead of using x-rays, to provide clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. While doctors know the general areas of the brain where speech, sensation, memory and other functions occur, the exact locations vary from individual to individual. Also, because injuries and disease, such as stroke or brain tumor, can cause functions to shift to other parts of the brain, fMRI has become super important. fMRI aids radiologists in letting them look closely at the anatomy of the brain, and can also help them determine precisely which part of the brain is handling and dealing with critical functions including thought, speech, movement and sensation. So why would a radiologist need to know this? Well, basically because this information can be critical to planning surgery, radiation therapy, treatment for stroke or other interventions to treat brain disorders, by knowing where things are going on, the doctors and surgeons can operate on, and treat the correct part of the brain.

What are some common uses of fMRI?
Stroke survivors and other victims of brain injury or disease often have an fMRI preformed. fMRI is becoming the diagnostic method of choice for learning how a normal, diseased or injured brain is working, as well as for assessing the potential risks of surgery or other invasive treatment of the brain. The term "Functional MRI" (with a capital F) includes the above and other MRI techniques that are sensitive to physiologic changes (such as changes in water motion). However, fMRI (with a lower case f) usually refers to the mapping of brain activity using MRI, so do not confuse the two.

"Functional MRI" techniques provide the most sensitive method currently available for dealing with brain tumors, strokes and some chronic disorders of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis. Also using these methods appear to provide a useful means of documenting some brain abnormalities related to dementia or seizures.

So, common uses are mapping the brain, getting info for planning surgeries etc. and viewing the status of the brain in general. In routine practice, fMRI studies are often used in planning brain surgery, since they can help physicians monitor normal brain function as well as any disturbed brain function. While research is still ongoing, it appears that fMRI can also help assess the effects of stroke, trauma or degenerative disease (such as Alzheimer's) on brain function.

How does the procedure work?
fMRI usesthe technology of an MRI, which is basically radio waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays that provide clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissue, to identify regions of the brain where blood vessels are expanding, chemical changes are taking place or extra oxygen is being delivered.
Because physicians know how to monitor the brain, they will have the patient perform a particular task while the imaging is taking place. By performing specific tasks that correspond to different functions, physicians are able to see what parts of the brain are corresponding, and if it is the typical or correct area. It also allows them to see where surgery is needed, and what areas are to be avoided. fMRI is very useful.

What are the benefits?
There are some real benefits of fMRI, and so many uses that make it a great procedure to use. The following are a few of the major benefits:
 Functional MRI can help surgeons identify the location of normal brain function so that they can attempt to avoid these areas during brain surgery.
 Functional MR imaging can detect strokes at an early stage that allows for more effective treatment.
 fMRI studies can help physicians monitor the growth and function of brain tumors and guide the planning of radiation therapy or surgical treatment as they develop and grow.
 fMRI imaging is better, and clearer than other brain imaging methods.
 You do not have to have exposure to radiation.
 fMRI often shows abnormalities that might be obscured by bone tissue with other imaging methods.

Risks
There are some risks associated with fMRI, one is that any undetected metal implant may be affected by the strong magnetic field. Second is that an fMRI is generally not a good idea for those in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so there is a possibility you can't use it.

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