An MRI scan, unlike a CT scan or X-ray, does not use radiation to capture the images - it uses the property of magnetic resonance. An MRI scan combines images to create a 3D picture of the patient’s internal structures. It is used to detect abnormalities in small structures of the brain such as the pituitary gland and brain stem. Sometimes a contrast agent (dye) is administered intravenously to better visualise certain structures or abnormalities.
How is it performed?