Clinical haematology · UKMLA & AKT
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise magnetic resonance imaging (mri) — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Osteomyelitis - gold standard; sensitivity 90-100%; detects bone marrow oedema (T2 bright signal) and soft tissue involvement within days of onset
- Multiple myeloma (suspected) - whole-body MRI is now first-line (supersedes skeletal survey and whole-body CT); identifies focal and diffuse bone marrow infiltration without ionising radiation
- CNS - superior to CT for posterior fossa, MS (demyelinating plaques), epilepsy, brain tumours; CT preferred for acute haemorrhage and head trauma
- Musculoskeletal - ligament/meniscal tears, rotator cuff, soft tissue tumours, spinal cord/nerve root pathology
A normal X-ray does NOT exclude osteomyelitis - X-ray changes only appear 10-21 days after infection onset (once ~30-50% of bone density is lost). MRI detects marrow oedema within 3-5 days.
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