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Frequently Asked Questions

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

M.R.I. stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Availability of M.R.I. is somewhat limited at this time in Ontario. M.R.I. scanning is presently conducted at larger centers. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care recently announced operating funding for an MRI at the Brantford General site of the Brant Community Healthcare System. The unit has been calibrated and tested and we are now accepting referrals from doctors.

We are still fundraising to pay for the unit.

Click here if you would like to help with a donation.

This page presents general information only.

M.R.I. is used to image a wide variety of disorders in all regions of the body. It has been most commonly used for imaging of the brain, spine and muskuloskeletal systems but is also currently being used to image the organs of the chest and abdomen with increasing frequency.

Rather than using x-rays, M.R.I. units use magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images. There is no radiation involved. Some exams require the use of injected contrast material. This is specially designed for M.R.I. use and is not the same as x-ray contrast.

The production of M.R. images is highly complicated. M.R.I. images are produced primarily by manipulating protons (sub-atomic particles) in water and fatty tissues of the body. A very basic illustration of this follows:

Sample Images:

M.R.I. of  head	M.R.I. of  head	M.R.I. of spine