Summary Read the full fact sheet. 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.
Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn Videos and Tutorials. Resources Find an Expert. Before you get a scan, tell your doctor if you Are pregnant Have pieces of metal in your body. You might have metal in your body if you have a shrapnel or bullet injury or if you are a welder.
Have metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or a metal artificial joint. Knowing what to expect can help calm any of your anxiety about your MRI. Here are typical steps involved with getting an MRI. First, medical technologists will instruct you to remove and store any metal materials in a lockable storage area. You may wear comfortable clothes that do not contain metal or change into medical scrubs top and pants or a hospital gown once you get to the MRI center.
Medical staff will guide you into a special room that holds the MRI scanner. An MRI machine looks like a giant tube with openings at both ends. Newer machines are bigger and provide more space, which may help ease claustrophobia. A short-bore system only scans the necessary part of the body, and allows the rest of the body to be outside of the magnet. For this type of scanner, only the upper part of your body would be inside the tube for a brain MRI.
With an open MRI, all sides of the machine are open. The technologist will give you a pillow or foam block to help keep your head in the right position. If you feel cold, a technologist can cover you with a sheet to make you more comfortable. You might experience a flushing sensation or a metallic taste in your mouth for a few moments after the injection.
Contrast agents rarely cause allergic reactions. Besides the minor pinch of having a small needle IV, you should not feel pain with the contrast agent. MRIs produce loud noises. The technologist will provide you with headphones that play music during your scan. These noises are normal and nothing to worry about. If you have trouble staying still or feel nervous about it, you may ask for a medication to help you relax.
But metal in the scanner can cause serious safety problems or reduce the quality of the images. Your health care team needs to know about any metal in your body, even a small shard of metal from an accident. Fillings, bridges, and other dental work typically do not pose a problem. But other metal that has been put into your body might prevent you from having an MRI. That includes some pacemakers, clips for treating aneurysms, and other devices with metal in them.
A nurse may review your health history before your exam. You may be given medications or contrast dye or have blood drawn. Be sure to tell the nurse if you're pregnant, have an allergy to contrast dye, or have kidney or liver problems.
You may not wear clothing with snaps or zippers in the scanner. You will be asked to wear a gown. Do not wear any jewelry or bring anything metal into the scanner, including a hearing aid. An MRI machine uses a powerful magnet to make images of your body. Unlike a CT scan, it does not use x-rays or other radiation. You will be given earplugs. The scanner makes a loud noise when it's operating. A device called a coil may be put on or around the area to be scanned to help capture the images.
You will also be given a squeeze ball to hold. You can use this to signal the technologist any time you need something. The MRI is controlled from a nearby room. You will be closely observed throughout the procedure. A series of scans are taken with a brief pause between each. You may hear different noises as different scans are taken. It's normal for the noise to be very loud. You need to remain still when the scan is being taken.
People are typically in the scanner from 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the images to be taken. A complex examination can take longer. If you are concerned about being in the scanner for this length of time, talk to your physician and the technologist. They can help you with some tips for staying comfortable. If you need to be removed from the scanner, this can be done very quickly.
The ends of the scanner are always open. After your exam, the images will be reviewed by your radiologist.
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