BRAIN IMAGING

Brain is the most complex organ of the body. Patients suffering from headaches, paralysis, limb weakness, dizziness, blackouts, movement disorder, epilepsy, loss of consciousness etc are advised to undergo brain imaging to find out the root cause of the problem. While CT Scan is the primary investigation modality for brain, MRI is the gold standard for brain imaging and the most sensitive of all diagnostic tools.

MR imaging of the head is performed for a number of sudden or long-standing symptoms. It can help diagnose conditions such as:

Developmental anomalies

Hydrocephalus — dilatation of fluid spaces within the brain (ventricles)

Epilepsy (seizures)

Brain stroke

Brain tumors

Migraine

Parkinson's

Alzheimers

Dementia

Diabetic Neuropathy

How is MRI Brain Done

Most of the Brain pathologies can be easily diagnosed on non-contrast MRI Brain but some of the conditions like Tumours require contrast study. However you would be asked to come for the test with four hours of fasting as contrast injection might be required in some cases. In MRI we use Gadonlinium contrast as compared to the Iodized Contrast in CT Scan which is less harmful for patients having poor kidney function. During the MRI exam, you would be in a room which has strong magnetic field. You should not be wearing any jewellery and should inform the technician if you have any kind of implant inside your body. In any case our technician would be checking you with a metal detector before taking you inside the magnet room.

You are advised to leave your mobile phone, wallet and all clothes inside a locker which is provided to you. You would be given a hospital gown to wear for the test. There is a humming sound which resembles the sound of a running train when the exam is going on. You would be given ear plugs to minimize this sound. You would be required to go inside a cylinderical tunnel and lie still while the exam is going on. On completion of the test, you can change into your own clothes and leave for your home. The MRI Brain exam will produce several hundred images which will be reviewed by the radiologist and the report would be made available within 24 hours of the scanning.

Best Centre and Cost

MRI Machines are of two types - Permanent Magnet and Superconducting Magnet. The Permanent Magnet MRI or Open MRI as it is called comes in two strengths - 0.2 Tesla and 0.3 Tesla. The Superconducting Magnet comes in strengths of 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla. Tesla is the unit for magnetic strength. The common belief is that higher the Tesla, better is the imaging quality but this is not the case. Higher magnetic strength can produce greater noise and result in lower signal to noise ratio. MRI of the Brain, Joints and Spine can be done equally well on a 0.3 Tesla Permanent Magnet as it is done on a 1.5 Tesla Magnet. However inner ear imaging is best done on a 3 Tesla MRI. Many doctors would prescribe MRI scan on a 3 Tesla Machine without knowing the difference in imaging quality. The quality of imaging also depends on the quality of coils, channels in the machine and specialized applications for doing the scanning. Finally the quality of reporting is of paramount importance in any MRI Imaging. At Bharat Diagnostics we have the optimum combination of all these factors. We have all types of machines at different centres. So patients who are claustrophobic, are advised to get their MRI on open magnet of 0.3 Tesla. Patients who require extensive testing like MRI brain and whole spine would do better to go for 3 Tesla as the imaging time is lesser.

The cost of Non-contrast MRI Brain at our centres is in the range of Rs. 7000 - 7500. If contrast is needed then additional amount of Rs. 3500 - 4000 is charged for the test.

Bharat Diagnostics, Bhiwadi

Bharat Diagnostics, Nuh

Bharat Diagnostics, Manesar