Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Spanish version, 2003)

Summary: Slurred speech or partial paralysis may signal only a seizure or migraine but can also be symptoms of stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a primary cause of serious disability. More than 3 million people who have survived a stroke are left unable to work or to care for themselves. So when a patient enters an emergency room with these symptoms, doctors must make a crucial diagnosis with little time to delay. At a large number of hospitals, physicians can now order an image of the patient's brain, using a technique called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The scan can reveal within a few minutes not only whether the patient has had a stroke but also which part of the brain is in danger. This stroke diagnostic tool represents a major clinical application of MRI.