MRI is one of the most important inventions in the last thousand years. It uses radio waves (of about the same frequency as the old FM stations) in a powerful magnetic field to allow for the non-invasive imaging of body tissues. It has become an indispensable tool in almost all aspects of Clinical Neuroscience and can be lifesaving.
MRI has reduced the need for biopsies, keeps people out of hospitals, guides the physician and surgeon, and provides peace of mind. It is non-invasive, safe, and has become quite inexpensive.
It is, therefore, our opinion that in the not-too-distant future MRI will take over most aspects of body imaging. Therefore all specialists will have to be trained in this crucial art of diagnosis. In the near future, MRI will be so fast that it will be possible to scan an individual’s entire body quickly and store the images on a computer chip. The same individual can be rescanned every 2-3 years, with all sets of images compared automatically by computer, which will flag any changes. This is how we will cure cancer.
Dr. Hutchinson is the inventor of parallel MRI, which is now the standard of modern imaging. He is board-certified in Neuroimaging (Brain and Spine, MRI and CT) by the United Council for Neurologic Specialties.