Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Accurate Result Can An Open MRI Scan Produce?
Question: Would open mri be useless for diagnosing ms? My neurologist says open and closed can both be used to accurately detect ms. I knowclosed has more clarity, but does that mean open would be pointless
Brief Answer:
No--- it could very well be adequate-- depending upon the circumstance
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. No, an open MRI does not have to be "useless" unless the lesions that are being sought after are very small and deep in the brain.
In that setting an open MRI may lose a bit of power and sensitivity in picking up the very smallest and least bright signals due to the machine being open.
But, no...it would not be a POINTLESS test to use and I've used it on patients (especially if there are clinical correlates) quite successfully. There's a bit of trouble trying to see smaller lesions in the brainstem for example or in the spinal cord with the OPEN.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do this lad a favor and not forget to CLOSE THE QUERY if you've no more questions?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better and are able to take advantage of the information I mention in order to obtain the best treatment possible and start turning things around.
This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
No--- it could very well be adequate-- depending upon the circumstance
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. No, an open MRI does not have to be "useless" unless the lesions that are being sought after are very small and deep in the brain.
In that setting an open MRI may lose a bit of power and sensitivity in picking up the very smallest and least bright signals due to the machine being open.
But, no...it would not be a POINTLESS test to use and I've used it on patients (especially if there are clinical correlates) quite successfully. There's a bit of trouble trying to see smaller lesions in the brainstem for example or in the spinal cord with the OPEN.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do this lad a favor and not forget to CLOSE THE QUERY if you've no more questions?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better and are able to take advantage of the information I mention in order to obtain the best treatment possible and start turning things around.
This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay, because i had an open mri done several months ago to check for ms. It came bavk negative. I was worried because i had read that people had missed ms diagnosis because they had used open mris. I was worried they might have missed somethi g. Is that likely?
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to miss lesions consistent with MS
Detailed Answer:
Good morning again. As I wrote in my previous answer....unless the lesions being searched for are very small then, TYPICAL white matter disturbances that would be considered suggestive of demyelinating diseases such as MS would not likely be missed simply on the basis of whether it was an open or closed study.
That is a bit of a wive's tale and the people who say that their MS was missed because they were in an OPEN vs. CLOSED scanner are more likely to have been suffering from radiology reader missing the diagnosis....not the machine missing the changes.
On the other hand and having said the aforementioned....my PREFERENCE as a neurologist and before a patient I was hoping I could see a POSITIVE MRI would be to do a 4 Telsa CLOSED study WITH GADOLINIUM. That would be MY preference...but it doesn't mean that open vs. closed couldn't equally see the same lesions.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do this lad a favor and not forget to CLOSE THE QUERY if you've no more questions?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better and are able to take advantage of the information I mention in order to obtain the best treatment possible and start turning things around.
This query has utilized a total of 20 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Unlikely to miss lesions consistent with MS
Detailed Answer:
Good morning again. As I wrote in my previous answer....unless the lesions being searched for are very small then, TYPICAL white matter disturbances that would be considered suggestive of demyelinating diseases such as MS would not likely be missed simply on the basis of whether it was an open or closed study.
That is a bit of a wive's tale and the people who say that their MS was missed because they were in an OPEN vs. CLOSED scanner are more likely to have been suffering from radiology reader missing the diagnosis....not the machine missing the changes.
On the other hand and having said the aforementioned....my PREFERENCE as a neurologist and before a patient I was hoping I could see a POSITIVE MRI would be to do a 4 Telsa CLOSED study WITH GADOLINIUM. That would be MY preference...but it doesn't mean that open vs. closed couldn't equally see the same lesions.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do this lad a favor and not forget to CLOSE THE QUERY if you've no more questions?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better and are able to take advantage of the information I mention in order to obtain the best treatment possible and start turning things around.
This query has utilized a total of 20 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
