Magnetic resonance imaging and its applications In small animals

IN recent decades human health care has undergone major technical advances, especially in the area of diagnostic imaging. Many pet owners have now, either directly or indirectly through relatives and friends, had experience of human scanning and other advanced medical techniques and expect the same technology to be applied to their animals. Although there is currently only one dedicated clinical veterinary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner in the UK, a number of referral services have access to human scanners, and it is highly likely that MRI will become available at the veterinary schools over the next decade, as it is already in North America. This article outlines some of the current uses of veterinary MRI. The aim is to help the veterinary surgeon in general practice to identify which cases are most likely to benefit from a referral.