Final answer:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive, radiation-free diagnostic tool that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the body, essential for medical diagnostics and distinguishing between normal and cancerous tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diagnostic test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create images of the body is called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This test involves broadcasting radio frequencies that are absorbed and reemitted by nuclei in the body, most commonly hydrogen nuclei-protons. The varying magnetic field causes the resonant frequency of these protons to change with position, allowing the MRI machine to piece together highly detailed two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. MRIs are especially beneficial as they do not expose patients to radiation, and they can differentiate between normal and malignant tissue, providing critical information for medical diagnostics.
Advancements in digital computing and electronics have significantly improved MRI techniques since their inception by Raymond Damadian in the early 1980s. Although more costly than x-rays, MRIs provide invaluable information where x-rays are less effective, such as in soft tissue imaging.
However, some limitations, like the enclosed space causing claustrophobia or difficulties imaging obese patients, have been addressed with the advent of 'open-MRI' machines. Additionally, while MRIs do not replace x-rays completely, as they are less effective in detecting bone fractures, they are an important complementary tool in the medical field.