Most people should get their results within a week, often sooner. Ask when you have the scan how long the results are likely to take — it can vary depending on the type of scan you are having and whether the scans need to be compared to previous scans. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about having an MRI. The hospital or radiology centre where you are having the MRI should also be able to answer any specific questions you have about the test.
Inside Radiology. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI updated 26 July NHS Choices. MRI scan updated 7 Oct Mayo Clinic. MRI updated 19 Aug Skip to content. What is an MRI? When is an MRI done? How does an MRI work? Author: myDr. What is Lyme Disease? What is Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia?
What is a PET Scan? Norman Swan Gastrointestinal Health May 7, ,. What Happens if a Hernia is Left Untreated? Symptoms May 3, ,. Previous article Benign breast lumps. Next article Breast cancer Q and A. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie Settings Accept All. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.
You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Before going for an MRI, a person can usually eat, drink, and take their medication as usual, unless a doctor has specified otherwise. However, it is important for an individual to inform the doctor if they:. Metal objects can affect the safety and effectiveness of an MRI scan. Before the examination begins, the MRI technician will ask the person to remove any metal items they are wearing, such as:. For a lumbar MRI, the person will also need to remove their clothing and wear a hospital gown.
The technician may also ask the person to fill out a medical questionnaire and sign a consent form. An MRI involves lying down inside a windowless chamber for an extended period, and therefore people who experience claustrophobia may find the procedure uncomfortable or even frightening.
If this is the case, the doctor may prescribe an antianxiety medication or sedative to help the person relax during the scan. The MRI machine looks like a giant doughnut. A radiologist or MRI technician will ask an individual to lie down on a table that slides into the opening of the machine. If a technician performs the MRI, they will do so under the direction of a radiologist, who is a specialist in X-rays and radiation processes.
Sometimes, MRI technicians also use gadolinium, which is a contrast dye, to gain a clearer image. They will inject the contrast dye before the scan through an intravenous line into a vein in either the hand or the arm of the person. The MRI machine uses a strong magnetic field that aligns and stimulates particles called protons in the body, forcing them to spin out of alignment.
When the technician halts the magnetic field, the protons begin to spin in their usual way. As they do this, they give off energy that the MRI machine detects. The MRI machine records this information, and a computer processes the data to create a detailed image of the body area.
Although doctors consider an MRI scan to be a very safe procedure, there are some safety concerns to keep in mind. The strong magnetic field inside the machine will attract metal objects, such as jewelry. If these objects are too close to the scanner, the magnetic field may cause them to move at speed. Inside the scanner you will hear a fan and feel air moving. You may also hear tapping or snapping noises as the MRI scans are taken.
You may be given earplugs or headphones with music to reduce the noise. It is very important to hold completely still while the scan is being done. You may be asked to hold your breath for short periods of time. During the test, you may be alone in the scanner room. But the technologist will watch you through a window.
You will be able to talk with the technologist through a two-way intercom. If contrast material is needed, the technologist will put it in an intravenous IV line in your arm. The material may be given over 1 to 2 minutes.
Then more MRI scans are done. An MRI test usually takes 30 to 60 minutes but can take as long as 2 hours. You will not have pain from the magnetic field or radio waves used for the MRI test. The table you lie on may feel hard, and the room may be cool. You may be tired or sore from lying in one position for a long time. If a contrast material is used, you may feel some coolness when it is put into your IV.
There are no known harmful effects from the strong magnetic field used for MRI. But the magnet is very powerful. The magnet may affect pacemakers, artificial limbs, and other medical devices that contain iron. The magnet will stop a watch that is close to the magnet. Any loose metal object has the risk of causing damage or injury if it gets pulled toward the strong magnet.
Metal parts in the eyes can damage the retina. If you may have metal fragments in the eye, an X-ray of the eyes may be done before the MRI. If metal is found, the MRI will not be done.
Iron pigments in tattoos or tattooed eyeliner can cause skin or eye irritation. An MRI can cause a burn with some medicine patches. Be sure to tell your health professional if you are wearing a patch. There is a slight risk of an allergic reaction if contrast material is used during the MRI. But most reactions are mild and can be treated using medicine. There also is a slight risk of an infection at the IV site. A dye contrast material that contains gadolinium may be used in this test. Be sure to tell your doctor if:.
Health Canada has safety warnings about gadolinium. But for most people, the benefit of its use in this test outweighs the risk. If you breastfeed and are concerned about whether the dye used in this test is safe, talk to your doctor. Most experts believe that very little dye passes into breast milk and even less is passed on to the baby. But if you prefer, you can store some of your breast milk ahead of time and use it for a day or two after the test.
A magnetic resonance imaging MRI is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. The radiologist may discuss initial results of the MRI with you right after the test. Complete results are usually ready for your doctor in 1 to 2 days. An MRI can sometimes find a problem in a tissue or organ even when the size and shape of the tissue or organ looks normal. The organs, blood vessels, bones, and joints are normal in size, shape, appearance, and location.
No bleeding, abnormal fluid, blockage in the flow of blood, or bulges in the blood vessels aneurysms are present. Abnormal fluid from a cause such as bleeding or an infection is present. He or she will then write up and send a radiology report detailing the results to your healthcare provider, who will then share the main findings of the MRI with you and talk to you about your next steps.
Unless you're able to access the radiology report in your online medical chart, you probably won't see it. If you do, if may be difficult to make sense of it without some advanced medical knowledge. Your healthcare provider or radiologist can answer any questions you have. A typical radiology report includes a number of sections exam type, clinical history, etc.
Each area is classified as normal, abnormal, or potentially abnormal. In the impression section, the most important part of the report, the radiologist combines your medical history with the findings of the MRI and reason for the test and gives a diagnosis based on these factors. If there isn't enough information for a specific diagnosis, the radiologist lists possible diagnoses differential diagnoses that may fit your situation.
You may need to follow-up with your healthcare provider if your MRI results weren't normal. Here are common scenarios:. Abnormal or potentially abnormal: If there is an abnormal or potentially abnormal finding, depending on the circumstances, the radiologist may recommend steps such as:. Your healthcare provider will discuss a plan regarding how to proceed with you.
Inconclusive: If the MRI didn't find what your healthcare provider was looking for, you will probably have a repeat MRI scan that uses different views or with a special imaging technique, such as a magnetic resonance angiography MRA to look at your blood vessels, an fMRI, or MRI with contrast to look more in-depth for whatever your healthcare provider is trying to find.
You may also have one of the imaging tests mentioned above instead of or in addition to MRI. In either of these situations, your healthcare provider may schedule these as soon as possible. Diagnosis: In cases where your MRI helped diagnose a specific medical condition, your healthcare provider will talk to you about a treatment plan. You may also have another MRI or more than one so that your doctor can monitor the abnormality for changes and see if your treatment is working.
This may be scheduled for a later time. Waiting for test results can be nerve-wracking. Try to find ways to keep your mind off of it, if you can. Go out with a friend, participate in activities you love. Be sure to keep lines of communication open with your healthcare provider and his or her staff so you can ask questions as you go along.
Being proactive in your health care is important both because it helps you feel less anxious about the process and because you know yourself and what you're going through better than anyone else. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Boston Children's Hospital. MRI With Anesthesia. Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic. Updated December 30, Radiological Society of North America, Inc. How to Read Your Radiology Report. American College of Radiology. Updated February 15, Updated June 18, Department of Health and Human Services.
Updated December 9, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes.
0コメント