Conditions Diagnosed by MRI: Comprehensive List by Body System

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and bones without ionizing radiation. It is a cornerstone of modern diagnosis.

Musculoskeletal

• Arthritis (inflammatory, osteoarthritis)
• Bone fractures (occult/stress), bone marrow edema
• Bone/soft tissue tumors
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis
• Ligament/tendon tears (ACL, rotator cuff, meniscus)
• Muscle strains/tears
• Osteomyelitis, septic arthritis
• Scoliosis, spinal cord compression

Neurological

• Brain tumors (primary, metastatic)
• Stroke (acute ischemia, hemorrhage), TIA
• Multiple sclerosis (demyelinating plaques)
• Alzheimer's, dementia (atrophy patterns)
• Epilepsy (mesial temporal sclerosis, malformations)
• Parkinson's, atypical parkinsonisms
• Cerebral aneurysms, AVMs
• Guillain-Barré (nerve root enhancement)
• Cerebral palsy (structural)

Cardiovascular

• Cardiomyopathies, myocarditis
• Congenital heart defects
• Coronary artery disease (stress perfusion, viability)
• Heart valve disease
• Aortic aneurysm/dissection
• Pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis
• Cardiac masses/thrombi

Oncological (Staging, Treatment Planning, Surveillance)

• Breast, prostate, rectal, cervical, uterine, ovarian
• Liver, pancreatic, adrenal, renal
• Sarcomas (bone/soft tissue)
• Brain, spine, head & neck

Abdominal / Pelvic / Other

• Crohn's disease (MR enterography)
• Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis
• Hydronephrosis, kidney stones (limited), renal masses
• Liver disease (cirrhosis, focal lesions — MRI liver protocol)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Prostate (mpMRI)
• Fetal MRI (CNS, chest, abdomen anomalies)

Contrast (Gadolinium) enhances vascularity, inflammation, tumor detection. Contraindicated in severe renal impairment (NSF risk).