21/01/2026
Within these month two of our university hospitals ( Arsi university and Maddawalabu University) got Modern MRI mashines. MRI is quite different from CT scan in both image acquisition and protocols for proper image interpretation. From my experience here are few points for both clinicians and MRT
1. MRI for neurological cases
✓ Brain MRI for different suspected CNS pathologies like infections, tumors, epilepsy, demyelinating disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke etc
✓ proper protocol should be used especially for epilepsy ( epilepsy protocol)
✓ spine: MRI is very important for degenerative disc pathology, infectious spondylodiscitis, spinal cord tumors....
2. MRI for pelvic and gynecologic cases
✓ MRI has high tissue contrast resolution and used for evaluation and staging of cervical ca, endometrial ca, re**al ca, a**l ca with out need of use of contrast agents.
✓ MRI is again very usefull for follow up of those above mentioned ca by using different sequences and helpfull to differentiate residual tumor or recurrence from scar tissue.
✓ MRI is very important for evaluation of peria**l fistula: to identify type of fistula, number of tracts, site of opening and associated mass lesions or complications etc. it should be done with fistula protocol.
✓ MRI is very important for evaluation of mullerian duct anomally.
3.MRI for hepatobiliary system
✓ MRCP is very important for clear evaluation of biliary systems much better than CT scan.
4. MRI for MSK system
✓ for evaluation of both benign and malignant soft tissue masses like rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcomas, liposarcomas etc.
✓ MRI is particularly important for osteosarcoma and its variants to evaluate proximal extension or satelite lesion within the single bone to plane proper site of amputation.
✓ MRI is particularly perfect for evaluation of chronic shoulder pain ( adhesive capsulitis, labral injuries, tendon tears), knee mensical injury, intrinsic knee ligaments (ACL, PCL...), elbow,Hip,ankle joint evaluation.
NB: While doing MRI we use different coils according to the part of body of interest like head coil, spine coil, body coil and extremity coil. So requiste should be specified to body of interest. Not like head and spine MRI.
Spine should be specified to cervical MRI, thoracic MRI or lumbar MRI.
Thank you
Dr.Irko Worku ( Radiologist)