Different Types of MRI Scans
BRAIN
This is a MRI looking at the soft tissues of the brain. You may be having an MRI of more detailed areas of the brain such as evaluating for Multiple Sclerosis, orbits, inner ears, facial nerves, or pituitary gland.
MRI spectroscopy is a specialized MRI scan of the brain that evaluates the different chemicals in the brain.
You will be lying on your back in the MRI scan table and the technologist will place your head in a head coil.
A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam.
The MRI will take 35-45 minutes depending on whether or not contrast is needed.
SOFT TISSUE NECK
This is a MRI scan that looks at the soft tissues, nerves and ligaments of the neck.
You will be lying on your back on the MRI scan table and the technologist will place you in a head and neck coil.
A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam.
The MRI will take 35-45 minutes depending on whether or not a contrast agent is needed.
SPINE
This is a MRI scan that can evaluate your cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. The MRI of the spine usually is performed to look at the disk spaces, nerves, soft tissues ligaments, tumors, abcesses, infection and multiple sclerosis.
You will be lying on your back on the MRI scan table and the technologist will place you on a coil. A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam.
The MRI will take 35-45 minutes depending on if we are doing one specific area of your spine or contrast agent is needed. If you are having your entire spine imaged you will be in the scanner approximately 1.5 hours.
CARDIAC
This is a MRI that will evaluate cardiac abnormalities, congenital defects, function abnormalities, or tumors.
Your doctor may request the Cardiac MRI with adenosine. This puts your heart into a slight stress situation like running on the treadmill. This gives the doctors more detailed images of your heart when under stress.
Cardiac MRI requires that you do not have caffeine for 24 hours prior to the exam.
You will be lying flat on your back the technologist will place ECG leads on your chest to evaluate your cardiac rhythm while scanning. The technologist will also give you headset so you can hear them talk to you. You may require to have an IV started depending whether or not contrast is needed for the scan.
BREAST
This is a type of MRI scan that can be used to evaluate abnormalities detected by mammography. MRI can identify early breast cancer not detectable through other means, especially in women with dense breast tissue and those at high risk for the disease. MRI can distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent tumors. It can assess multiple tumor locations.
MRI provides additional information on a diseased breast to make treatment decisions. It is also used to determine the integrity of breast implants if a rupture is in question.
We may have you place Vitamin E markers in the areas of concern if you know or can feel a lump. A contrast agent may be injected at the discretion of the Radiologist or physician.
During the MRI of the breasts you lay on your stomach and your breasts hang freely in the breast coil. The MRI scan takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. You must lay very still as even slight motion can blur the images.
ABDOMEN/LIVER
This is a MRI that will evaluate the organs in the abdominal area such as the liver, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals, and gall bladder. It can evaluate abscesses, tumors, hemangiomas, and many other abdominal abnormalities.
You will be lying on your back on the MRI scan table and the technologist will place a coil on top of you. A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam.
The technologist will also give you headset so you can hear them talk to you. This scan will require that you hold your breath for multiple scans. You will hold your breath for 10-15 seconds.
You may require to have an IV started depending on whether or not contrast is needed for the scan.
You cannot eat or drink anything for 4 hours prior to your exam.
PELVIS
Pelvis MRI can evaluate abnormalities, tumors, infection of the pelvic organs including the reproductive organs in the male (prostate and testicles) and the female (uterus and ovaries).
Pelvis MRI can also evaluate the soft tissues, tumors, or fractures that involve the pelvis or hip bones.
You will be lying on your back on the MRI scan table and the technologist will place a coil on top of you. A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam. You may also have a coil that is placed in your vagina or rectum if your doctor asks for a specialized scan of the prostate or uterus.
You may also be required to have an IV started depending whether or not contrast is needed for the scan.
You cannot eat or drink anything for 4 hours prior to your exam.
EXTREMETIES
This is MRI scans that can include the shoulder, humerus, forearm, elbow, wrist, hand, fingers, legs, knee, ankle, feet or toes. All of these MRI scans can evaluate the tumors, abscesses, ligamentous injuries, soft tissue abnormalities, fractures.
You will be lying on your back on the MRI scan table and the technologist will place a coil on top of you depending on which area we are examining. A coil is a type of antenna that picks up the radio frequencies during an MRI exam.
The MRI scan can range from 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on what area we are scanning and if you require to have contrast.
