The technologist will stay in constant contact with you. You can listen to music on a stereo system during your testing. As the exam proceeds, you will hear a muffled "thumping" sound for several minutes at a time.
This is the sound of the pictures being taken. There will be no pain or discomfort associated with the sound or exam. The exam usually takes 20 to 50 minutes. It is important that you relax and lie as still as possible.
Any movement during this time will blur the picture. You may be given an injection of contrast dye gadolinium into your arm or through an IV to enhance the images.
After the test is complete, the IV will be removed and you are free to go. You may be told to drink lots of fluids to help your kidneys remove the contrast dye from your body.
MRI is very safe. There are no known health risks associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves used by the machine. Some people are sensitive to the contrast agent and may develop an allergic reaction. All contrast agents are FDA-approved and safe. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have diabetes or kidney problems.
In some cases a kidney function test may be needed prior to the MRI to make sure your kidneys are able to clear the contrast agent from your body. Any metallic substance on your body can affect the quality of the images. It can also cause discomfort or injury to you when placed in the magnetic field, and may exclude you from the exam.
After the first trimester, there is no definitive research indicating that MRI is contraindicated in pregnancy.
However, you will need to obtain a written order from your gynecologist for the test to be performed. The radiologist will promptly review your images and communicate directly with your referring doctor, who in turn will discuss the results with you. If you have further questions about this diagnostic test, contact the doctor that ordered the test or visit Radiologyinfo.
X-ray: electromagnetic radiation used in diagnostic imaging to view shadows of tissue density in the body, also called roentgenogram. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.
A person who is very large may not fit into certain types of MRI machines. There are weight limits on the scanners. Implants and other metallic objects can make it difficult to obtain clear images. 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.
Staging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Send us your feedback Did you find the information you were looking for? Normally, scans last between 15 minutes to an hour. The MRI machine itself looks like a big donut with a table attached to it.
Your whole body does not go in the machine, only the half or part that needs to be scanned. It makes a lot of different noises, and some of them are extremely loud. Some patients say it sounds like a sledgehammer. For this reason, you will be offered headphones. You can listen to music or sometimes even watch a movie. Pressing the button will signal the technician that you would like to stop the scan and come out of the machine. Some doctors may prescribe a one-time, low-dose anti-anxiety medicine to relax you for the test.
This person also will not be allowed to wear jewelry or metal and will have to go through the same screening process as the person being scanned. A radiologist a doctor who specializes in medical imaging will review the images and send a report to your referring doctor. Your doctor will receive a full report a day or two following the test and can go over the results with you.
Even though having an MRI is safe and painless, it can be a difficult test for persons who are claustrophobic. The MRI machine is never completely closed, but just being even partially in an enclosed area is enough to fill some people with dread. Open MRI machines are, as the name suggests, more open and less confining than the traditional machines.
They have larger openings and do not completely surround your body. This makes them a better alternative not only for claustrophobic patients, but also for obese patients or normal-sized males who have larger shoulders.
Small children who are incapable are being still for the duration of the scan may require sedation prior to having an MRI. In this case, an anesthesiologist would provide the sedation and stay in addition to a nurse to monitor the patient before, during, and after the scan. Sedation is also sometimes used for patients who are extremely claustrophobic.
If your MRI requires contrast, your radiologist will monitor you for allergies during the procedure. Severe reactions to the contrast agent are rare, but could happen. In those cases, the radiology department is well-trained on how to handle your allergic reaction.
Last Updated: June 23, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. However, if you have to travel, there are ways to decrease…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Blood Test: Lipid Panel. Pelvic Ultrasound.
Rapid Strep Test. Abdominal Ultrasound. CT Head Scan. Here is how they are different: An MRI uses a magnetic field to create an image. No studies have linked MRIs to any harmful health effects. A CT scan uses radiation to create an image.
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