On this page. When an MRI scan is used The MRI scan is used to investigate or diagnose conditions that affect soft tissue, such as: Tumours, including cancer Soft tissue injuries such as damaged ligaments Joint injury or disease Spinal injury or disease Injury or disease of internal organs including the brain, heart and digestive organs.
Tell your doctor about any internal device or implant you may have, such as a heart pacemaker, metal pins or a medication pump. Pregnancy — the affect of MRI scanning on a fetus is unknown. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you think you may be pregnant.
Fasting — before undergoing a pelvic or abdominal MRI scan, you will be advised not to eat or drink for at least five hours before the procedure. In most other cases, it is usually not necessary to avoid food or drink prior to the scan.
However, be advised by your doctor. Claustrophobia — tell your doctor if you experience claustrophobia. Some patients find the confined space within the MRI scan unsettling. The doctor may offer you medication to help you relax during the procedure. Children — often children are given anti-anxiety medication prior to the procedure to help them relax. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
MRI scan procedure Generally, an MRI involves the following: You will be asked to remove all metal objects, including wristwatches, keys and jewellery. These items must be left outside the scan room. In most cases, you are asked to undress and put on a cotton gown. The table then slides into the cylinder. An intercom inside the MRI scanner allows you to talk with the radiography staff. It is important to lie very still.
Movement will blur or distort the pictures. While it is in operation, the MRI scanner makes noises such as knocks, loud bangs and clicks. You may be offered earplugs. In some cases, you can listen to music through headphones if you prefer. The scanned area of your body may feel a little warm. The scan may take up to an hour, depending on the nature of the investigation.
Immediately after the MRI You may be asked to wait while the radiographer checks the quality of the pictures. Occasional complications may include: Metal objects such as jewellery worn during the scan can cause injury.
Patient movement can have the same effect. A very irregular heartbeat may affect the quality of images. This is because some techniques time the imaging based on the electrical activity of the heart. Breathing may cause artifacts , or image distortions, during MRIs of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Bowel motion is another source of motion artifacts in abdomen and pelvic MRI studies.
This is less of a problem with state-of-the art scanners and techniques. Present data show no convincing evidence that non contrast MRI harms the fetus of a pregnant woman. However, if the need for the exam is not time sensitive your doctor may delay the exam until after delivery. MRI gadolinium contrast agents are generally avoided during pregnancy except in very specific circumstances. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of any MRI procedure with you.
Doctors may perform MRI after the first trimester to assess the fetus for findings that are not fully evaluated by ultrasound. MRI may not always distinguish between cancer tissue and fluid, known as edema. An MRI exam typically costs more and may take more time than other imaging exams. Talk to your insurance provider if you have concerns about the cost of MRI.
Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations. The teddy bear denotes child-specific content.
Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What is MRI of the Body? What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare for the procedure? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed?
What will I experience during and after the procedure? Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs. What are the limitations of MRI of the Body? Which test, procedure or treatment is best for me? Detailed MR images allow doctors to examine the body and detect disease. MR imaging of the body is performed to evaluate: organs of the chest and abdomen—including the heart, liver , biliary tract , kidneys , spleen , bowel, pancreas , and adrenal glands.
Physicians use an MR examination to help diagnose or monitor treatment for conditions such as: tumors of the chest, abdomen or pelvis. These items include: jewelry, watches, credit cards, and hearing aids, all of which can be damaged pins, hairpins, metal zippers, and similar metallic items, which can distort MRI images removable dental work pens, pocketknives, and eyeglasses body piercings mobile phones, electronic watches, and tracking devices.
People with the following implants may not be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area without first being evaluated for safety: some cochlear ear implants some types of clips used for brain aneurysms some types of metal coils placed within blood vessels some older cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers vagal nerve stimulators Tell the technologist if you have medical or electronic devices in your body.
MRI exams may be done on an outpatient basis. Benefits MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to radiation. MR images of the soft-tissue structures of the body—such as the heart, liver and many other organs— is more likely in some instances to identify and accurately characterize diseases than other imaging methods.
This detail makes MRI an invaluable tool in early diagnosis and evaluation of many focal lesions and tumors. MRI has proven valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions, including cancer, heart and vascular disease , and muscular and bone abnormalities.
MRI can detect abnormalities that might be obscured by bone with other imaging methods. MRI allows physicians to assess the biliary system noninvasively and without contrast injection. The MRI gadolinium contrast material is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than the iodine-based contrast materials used for x-rays and CT scanning. MRI provides a noninvasive alternative to x-ray, angiography and CT for diagnosing problems of the heart and blood vessels. Risks The MRI exam poses almost no risk to the average patient when appropriate safety guidelines are followed.
If sedation is used, there is a risk of using too much. However, your vital signs will be monitored to minimize this risk. The strong magnetic field is not harmful to you. However, it may cause implanted medical devices to malfunction or distort the images.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a recognized complication related to injection of gadolinium contrast. It is exceptionally rare with the use of newer gadolinium contrast agents. It usually occurs in patients with serious kidney disease. Your doctor will carefully assess your kidney function before considering a contrast injection.
There is a very slight risk of an allergic reaction if your exam uses contrast material. Such reactions are usually mild and controlled by medication. If you have an allergic reaction, a doctor will be available for immediate assistance. Although there are no known health effects, evidence has shown that very small amounts of gadolinium can remain in the body, particularly the brain, after multiple MRI exams. This is most likely to occur in patients receiving multiple MRI exams over their lifetime for monitoring chronic or high-risk health conditions.
The contrast agent is mostly eliminated from the body through the kidneys. If you are a patient in this category, consult with your doctor about the possibility of gadolinium retention, as this effect varies from patient to patient. IV contrast manufacturers indicate mothers should not breastfeed their babies for hours after contrast material is given. However, the most recent American College of Radiology ACR Manual on Contrast Media reports that studies show the amount of contrast absorbed by the infant during breastfeeding is extremely low.
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