Search

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is known for its superior ability to diagnose pathology of the abdomen due to its intrinsically high contrast. MRI is also increasingly used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. There is now strong evidence that non-enhanced MRI is as effective as contrast-enhanced computed tomography in assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis. In addition, in patients presenting with malignant hypertension, MR angiography has emerged as an exquisitely sensitive modality for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis. Despite the wide range of possible applications of MRI, there are several limitations that prevent its use in a wide range of patients. MRI scans take a significant amount of time, and the risk of an unstable patient decompensating during the scan far outweighs the possible benefits of the imaging. Patients selected for MRI must be able to lie still for the duration of the scan to prevent movement artifacts.