“It uses radiation, just like an X-ray does, to take cross-sectional images of the body like a slice of bread so to speak.”

One major benefit of a scan is it’s “a less-invasive way of finding out what’s going on inside the body.

“For this process you lay on a table and pass through the scanner itself which is a donut shape. The scanner doesn’t touch you” Ms Venables continues.

“You just stay still for 20 seconds or less, perhaps only five seconds”, depending on the size of the area being looked at.

“With it we can look at soft tissue, bone, everything inside the body. It can look at orthopaedic wire and other metal treatments for bone fractures and make sure they’re healing properly.”

The same goes for oncology (the medical field for cancer). “The CT can make sure the treatment is working by scanning the affected area before and during treatment,” then comparing the difference.

“We can also analyse some types of trauma, especially if their doctor is worried there might be a stroke” Lauren explains.

“If it’s a fresh bleed, which turns up bright white, it will confirm the doctor’s diagnosis and we show them what it looks like.”

“The MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to build up an anatomical image of the patient’s internal organs” explains Steven Brown, regional technical manager at  I-MED Radiology Network.

“There’s no radiation” he continues, “and they’re quite long scans ranging from 10 minutes up to an hour. It’s also completely painless.”

The MRI “produces images in exquisite detail of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, the joints, and other organs that are not well imaged by other modalities.

“For example, the MRI is the only scanner capable of taking an image of a torn meniscus in the knee.”

An MRI is also able to look for the physical signs of multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease affecting the central nervous system.

“We can find things related to the cause of headaches” Mr Brown divulged.

“The MRI’s biggest use is probably in the athlete community.”

As examples of this, “We can look at damaged muscles, torn cartlidge, even see if there’s bone bruising.”

When having an MRI scan, “It’s important people are aware it’s very noisy so we give them earmuffs and they can have the radio playing in them if they want it.”

Also, “During the scan it’s important they can keep nice and still.”

For more about I-MED Radiology Network just visit www.i-med.com.au