In most MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) sequences, the "colors" are actually shades of gray, representing the signal intensity of different tissues. These shades are interpreted as follows:
- High Signal Intensity = White: Tissues or fluids that appear white on an MRI scan have high signal intensity.
- Intermediate Signal Intensity = Gray: Tissues that appear gray have intermediate signal intensity.
- Low Signal Intensity = Black: Tissues or fluids that appear black have low signal intensity.
It's important to note that the meaning of these intensities can vary based on the specific MRI sequence used (e.g., T1-weighted, T2-weighted, FLAIR). Different sequences highlight different tissue properties, thus affecting the appearance of certain structures. Therefore, interpretation always requires consideration of the sequence used. While the resulting images are greyscale, sometimes colors are artificially added by radiologists for easier interpretation or visualization (e.g., to highlight blood vessels).
