Kidney Mri: Preclinical Applications

Magnetic resonance is a medical imaging technique which is used for taking detailed pictures of the soft tissues and organs of the body through radio waves and magnets. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, it does not make use of ionizing radiation. Therefore it can be used in cases where exposure to radiation is dangerous. The soft tissues as well as masses, cystic structures, lymph nodes and blood vessels can be seen in detail. The MRI functions by directing radio waves at the molecules of water inside the body, exciting and relaxing the protons in them. This energy from the water molecules is read and a 3-D image is produced which shows the different types of tissue. It can be used for the detection of acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease. It also helps in finding out changes in kidney function which could indicate inflammation or obstruction. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of magnetic resonance imaging and its clinical and experimental applications. It is an upcoming technique in the field of medical science that has undergone rapid development over the past few decades. Researchers and students in this field will be assisted by this book.