A refrigerator magnet fastens notes onto the door.In the field of contemporary medicine, magnets are used in revolutionary Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.The MRI technology involving magnets and radio waves was intended to change the approach toward diagnoses on various medical conditions affecting the brain, heart, kidney, spine, liver, joints and various other organs.
A week ago, at his office on Ana Street, Woodbrook, medical physicist/pioneer Christopher Camacho boasted he was happy to be involved in introducing the high technology to T&T–which involved engineering and magnets.He admitted to "falling in love" with the sophisticated ultra state-of-the art technology at university in Toronto, Canada. MRIs emerged as a technology in the 1980s and evolved within two decades, Camacho said.
The process which does not use X-rays would determine whether there is a need for major surgery on the brain, joints and spine.
Camacho said:"It is new technology in medical imaging utilising advanced bio-medical electrical engineering. The idea when we started was to bring the best technology to Trinidad. It was the most amazing of technologies. MRI is truly a monument to human intelligence. It is the result of extensive research."
He explained while X-rays were similar in principle to visible light, an MRI was based upon theoretical or esoteric physics. "The theory from the books went to the lab and was applied to medicine."This revolutionary approach would lead to early detection and treatment of disease, and give the doctor as much assistance as possible since he would be looking directly at tissue. It goes beyond a patient's organs.
"You can peer inside the body...look at soft tissue."To date, about over 25,000 people have taken advantage of the MRI scan at Woodbrook.
He also paid kudos to Dr George Laquis who co-founded the MRI Centre. The centre has three internationally trained radiologists who (interpret the MRI scans) and two certified technologists who operate the equipment. Hannah Mathura is the other physicist and the operations manager.
MAGNETS IN MEDICINE
Again, Camacho made reference to the use of magnets."The patient's illness is detected in a large magnetic field. Our bodies are made up of atoms. An MRI takes into consideration that certain atoms behave like a magnet. "When placed in the large MRI magnet these atoms align like a compass needle. Once aligned, the atoms will under certain conditions give off a very small radio signal which can be detected and used to make an MRI image. The body contains billions of hydrogen (water) atoms which MRI can detect.
"The large MRI magnet makes use of liquid helium (the gas form is used for balloons). That is what make the process so expensive. We need it in liquid form since it is one of the coldest substances in the world and is used to cool the metal that makes up the MRI magnet," said Camacho."The liquid helium boils off constantly and must be replaced. The magnet has to be kept at a certain temperature. The magnetic field is so strong that you don't want any mishaps. You have to remove all metals from the MRI room for fear of it being sucked into the magnet."
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT SOFT TISSUES
An MRI scan can pick up soft tissue in all of the major organs like the heart, kidneys and inside the liver."An MRI gives an exquisite view of soft tissue. MRIs are modernising the way we view medicine."
Professional athletes and sports enthusiasts can also benefit from MRIs."An MRI sees torn ligaments, cartilage, tendons and muscles. If you want to see if it is torn partially, an MRI can fill in all the details that one cannot see with an Xray. It can detect injuries, disorders and diseases affecting the bone marrow," said Camacho.
But he admitted there were risks.
"Because the MRI uses a large magnet, there are risks of metal moving. A person might be in pain and move. A person with a pacemaker, an implant, an aneurysm clip or someone with metal fragments in the eyes cannot do an MRI."He also advised that since an MRI scan costs roughly $3,800, it is important to visit a doctor who would first make the referral and then request the MRI.
"It is expensive, but we are cheaper than other countries. It is about US $1,000 on average abroad. Most of the developed countries have adopted the amazing MRI. It is revolutionising the way we practice medicine." Among the countries in the Caribbean that followed T&T's lead were Barbados, Antigua and Guyana.
$4 MILLION UPGRADE
While the process is intensive and exorbitant, Camacho shed some light on its modus operandi. The Centre, located at Fitzblackman Drive in Woodbrook, recently did a major $4 million upgrade to update the MRI scanner and upgrade and beautify the facility.He said: "The patient is placed in a large magnet. The room is itself copper. The room has to be shielded. The hydrogen atoms give off a very small signal so the room must be secured from all external signals.
"When the scanning is going on, there are loud noises associated with the process. The patient is given earphones playing music of their choice. A typical MRI scan takes less than half an hour."Dust and radio signals are an anathema.An x-ray runs the risk of being carcinogenic, but not so for an MRI."It is even safe on pregnant women...to look at the foetus. It can look at abnormalities in the brain and spinal cords."
He gave an example of the genius of the MRI."If a person is having a problem with their neck, they may feel the pain is coming from their shoulder. But really it may be coming from the neck and the MRI image would show this."Zeroing on heart patients, Camacho said:"An MRI can tell whether part of the heart is dead or alive. If the heart is getting a low blood supply, it could get stagnant. An MRI would determine whether the tissue is alive. That would prevent doctors from doing an unnecessary bypass. If it is dead there is no need for an expensive bypass operation.
"In the case of cancer, an MRI would determine what is benign and what is cancerous.Camacho said: "I am very excited about making sure we are at the cutting edge of MRI technology here in Trinidad."
ABOUT MRI
MRI is a test that lets a doctor see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Instead, strong magnets and radio waves work together to form a sharp image. There's no x-ray radiation and the magnets and radio waves are harmless.Two new features of the MRI Centre are MRI Spectroscopy–a highly advanced technique for non-invasively analysing the bio-chemical components of tissue anywhere in the body and Advanced Cardiac MRI imaging. The latter examines the function, anatomy and health of the heart muscle. It is useful for looking for tiny holes in the heart, characterising the heart muscle and detecting unusual heart abnormalities.
For further information contact MRI at 623-4674