Glossary

Magnetic resonance – as in magnetic resonance imaging or MRI

Magnetic Resonance Angiography.  A magnetic resonance image of blood vessels which, unlike routing angiography, is noninvasive.

Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy.  A minimally invasive neurosurgical technique where a small probe is precisely guided to a target in the brain or spine via a small incision.  A laser fiber is then introduced to the probes tip. The MRI machine is used to monitor the placement of the probe and the lesion as it is generated. This technique is used to treat epilepsy, tumors and radiation necrosis. Its application is limited by the size and shape of the heat lesion that is generated by the laser fiber.

Magnetic resonance imaging. A sophisticated imaging technique using magnetic fields instead of x-rays to create the image.

Messenger RNA – a type of RNA that passes genetic information from the DNA to the ribosome that directs protein synthesis.

Magnetic Resonance Perfusion.  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  technique for evaluating perfusion or the degree of delivery of oxygen and nutrients by blood circulation to a tissue.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy – specialized magnetic resonance imaging used to characterize and quantitative relative concentrations of brain metabolites. This information can be used in determining the tissue type in an area of interest on a routine magnetic resonance image.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy – This refers to using the MR scanner to perform a NMR analysis of the tissue being imaged ignorer to gain information about its molecular makeup.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus – a strain of bacteria that has developed a resistance to a commonly used penicillin antibiotic, methicillin.

Muscle smooth actin – refers to a stain for muscle actin occurring in skeletal, cardiac and other smooth muscles. It does not stain non-muscle actin. It is used to differentiate tumors containing muscle elements from those that do not.