March is Multiple Sclerosis Education Month

The month of March is promoted by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and others as Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. As an imaging service provider aiding physicians with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnostics and monitoring, Sonos Imaging offers insight into the use of MRIs to diagnose and monitor MS patients.

MS and the MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic tool that offers the most sensitive and non-invasive way of imaging the brain, spinal cord, or other areas of the body. This technology, commonly used in MS care, can provide us with increasingly useful information. It is the preferred imaging method to help establish a diagnosis of MS and to monitor the course of the disease.

Using an MRI for MS Diagnosis

Because MRIs are particularly useful in detecting central nervous system damage, it is a powerful tool in helping to establish the diagnosis of MS.

Tracking Disease Progress

Once a diagnosis of MS has been established, additional monitoring scans are required and important for tracking the progress of the disease and making treatment decisions.

Most healthcare professionals recommend follow-up MRIs on a yearly basis. It is recommended the follow-up MRIs be obtained on the same scanner or similar MRI machines in order for the radiologist and your healthcare provider to easily determine changes with doing side by side comparisons.

There are many different types of MRI machines. The size and shape of an MRI may vary, but the magnet strength used in a MRI is important to the quality of the images. Most MRI machines are 1.5T (Tesla) or 2.0T. Sonos Imaging facilities are home to the Optima MR450w 1.5T MR system, which is designed to help maximize comfort and technology.

Note* Open MRIs are usually less than 1.5T and do not provide the best images for detecting MS activity, although they may be used when someone has difficulty tolerating a closed MRI machine.

The MRI Suite at Sonos Imaging is open and bright and equipped with the latest and largest technology from GE. The suite is also oriented such that it is filled with natural light on two sides, allowing for a comfortable and open environment for our patients. Our commitment at Sonos Imaging is to exceed the needs of our patients and their physicians, in the most comfortable setting possible.