Guide

Glossary

All medical terms in our articles, sorted alphabetically.

A

ACR accreditation: Quality label from the American College of Radiology, used internationally as a marker for equipment, protocols and reporting standards.

B

Bore: The cylindrical opening of the MRI scanner. Standard bore is 60 cm; wide-bore is 70 cm; open MRI uses two plates instead of a tunnel.

D

DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging): MRI sequence measuring water molecule movement, used in stroke and oncology to assess cell density.

G

Gadolinium: Contrast agent injected during MRI to highlight blood vessels, tumours and inflammation. Used cautiously in kidney disease.

R

RF (radiofrequency): Short radio pulses that make tissue protons resonate — the basis of the MRI signal; safe within clinical SAR limits.

T

T1 vs T2 weighting: Two basic MRI contrast modes: T1 emphasises fat and anatomy; T2 emphasises fluid and inflammation. Radiologists combine sequences for diagnosis.
Tesla (T): SI unit of magnetic field strength. Clinical MRI scanners typically operate at 1.5T or 3.0T; higher field strength can mean sharper images or shorter scan time.