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MRI: Brave New Medicine 核磁共振造影：美丽新医术

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本  

American Paul C. Lauterbur and Englishman Sir Peter Mansfiels were awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoveries leading to the development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI produces high quality images of the inside of the human body. This technology allows the examination of almost all organs without invasive surgery, and is especially powerful in understanding the central nerve system.

美国籍的保罗劳特卜和英国爵士彼得曼斯菲两人获颁2003年诺贝尔医学奖，因为他们的发现导致核磁共振造影的医疗科技得以发展。核磁共振造影术可以产生体内的高质量影像。这项技术使得几乎所有身体器官检查不需有侵入人体的手术，对于了解中央神经系统尤其有效。

The human body is mainly composed of hydrogen-rich substances, such as water and fat. MRI utilizes a magnetic field to induce the nuclei in hydrogen atoms to produce a nuclear magnetic resonance signal. In essence, each nucleus becomes a tiny radio transmitter. And because different tissues contain different configurations of hydrogen, the atoms produce different signals. These signals are then converted to images revealing the behavior of human tissues and diseases in dynamic, three-dimensional images.

人体的主要组成是含氢丰富的物质，像是水和脂肪。核磁共振造影术利用磁场诱导氢原子里的原子核，制造出磁共振的讯号。本质上，每一个原子核都是个小型讯号发射机。因为人体不同组织各自具有不同的氢原子组成结构，于是原子生成不同的讯号。然后这些讯号被转化呈现出人体组织行为和疾病的3D动态画面。

Over the past fifty years, many chemists, physicists, and physicians have contributed to the research which came to fruition in MRI technology. It was Lauterbur who first demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging on test tube samples in 1973, while Mansfield developed an imaging technique in 1977 that allowed for real-time imaging of, for example, cardiac and cerebral function. For their landmark contributions, Laurterbur and Mansfield each received US$1.3 million.

过去50年来，许多化学家、物理学家和医生都为核磁共振造影科技的研究贡献良多。劳特卜于1973年以试管样本首先示范出核磁共振的造影，而1977年曼斯菲再进一步发展影像成形技巧，可让譬如心脏与脑部的功能产生实时影像。因为他们划时代的贡献，劳特卜与曼斯菲两人各自获得了一百三十万美元的奖励。

Vocabulary

单词发音

invasive [ɪnˋvesɪv] adj. 侵入的; 〔治疗〕需手术的

compose [kəmˋpoz] v. 组成，构成[H][（+of）]

utilize [ˋjut!͵aɪz] v.【正式】利用﹐使用

nucleus [ˋnjuklɪəs] n.【核】（原子）核

configuration [kən͵fɪgjəˋreʃən] n.【正式或术语】构造﹐结构; 布局

reveal [rɪˋvil] v. 展现，显露出

fruition [fruˋɪʃən] n.【正式】〔计划﹑想法等〕实现; 完成

cerebral [ˋsɛrəbrəl] adj. 大脑的

Sentence of the Day

MRI has caused a stir in the medical community.

核磁共振造影术在医界引起一阵骚动。

cause a stir 引起骚动

课文讲解

Lillian Geralds is talking with oncologist Dr. Stinson in his Los Angeles office:  莉莉安吉拉德和肿瘤医生史汀生在他的洛杉矶办公室里讨论病情：

L: Doctor. I’ve been doing some reading. In addition to a mammogram, I’d really like to be considered for an MRI scan. How is it that MRIs detect tumors more often than mammograms?

医生，我读了一些参考数据。除了乳房X光摄影，我还想做核磁共振造影检查。为什么核磁共振造影比乳房X光片容易侦测出癌症？

S: Well, MRI produces images based on the variation of radio signals that are absorbed and emitted by an object.

因为核磁共振造影所形成的影像是根据无线电信号被物体吸收和发射出来的变量所产生。

L: Those variations are then compiled to produce three-dimensional images, correct?

那些产生的变量经过编排再产生三度空间的图像，是吗？

S: Exactly, Ms. Geralds. The MRI signal of a tumor is markedly different from that of healthy tissue.

是的，吉拉德太太。核磁共振造影画面所呈现的肿瘤讯号与健康组织的讯号截然不同。

L: So that’s why MRI scans are twice as successful at detecting breast tumors as mammograms are?

也因此核磁共振造影检查乳房肿瘤的成功机率比乳房X光片摄影强一倍？

S: MRI does spot breast cancer missed by mammograms, but it also generates more false positives.

乳房X光片没检查出来的乳癌，核磁共振造影的确能测出来，不过它也可能造成更多误诊。

L: I have heard that, but I also have a relative who tested negative with a mammogram, yet positive with an MRI. The MRI saved her life. Surely, my family history is relevant here?

那个我已经听说了，但是我也有一位亲戚，她的乳房X光片检查是阴性，但是核磁共振造影检查却是阳性的。核磁共振造影救回她一条命。当然，我的家族病史也与这个有关系吧？

S: Without a doubt. And your history puts you in a high risk category. In this case, we’ll go ahead with an MRI screening as well as a mammogram test.

确实有关系，而且妳的家族病史显示妳是高危险群。这种情况下，我们会采取核磁共振造影和乳房X光片两种检查。

L: Thank you, doctor. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

谢谢你，医生。谨慎一点总比后悔好。

S: Let’s just hope that our testing turns out unnecessary in the end.

希望结果证实我们这些检查都是没必要的。

－by David S. Klein

Vocabulary

单词发音

oncologist [ɑŋˋkɑlədʒɪst] n. 肿瘤科医生

mammogram [ˋmæməgræm] n. 乳房X光摄影片

compile [kəmˋpaɪl] v. 汇编；编辑

markedly [ˋmɑrkɪdlɪ] adv. 显着地

false positive（因测试方法有缺陷而造成的）误诊；误测

relevant [ˋrɛləvənt] adj. 有关的; 关系重大的

screening [ˋskrinɪŋ] n. 检查〔以确定未患某种病〕

Sentence of the Day

The life saving results of MRI speak for themselves.

核磁共振造影检查能救人命是毋庸置疑的。

speak for itself  不言而喻