Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Procedures

• Head: MRI can look at the brain for tumors, an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, nerve injury, and other problems, such as damage caused by a stroke. Diffusion weighted MRI scans can detect a stroke only a few hours after the onset of symptoms. MRI can also find problems of the eyes and optic nerves, and the ears and auditory nerves. An exam called Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) provides chemical analysis of brain abnormalities, which can aid in the diagnosis of various diseases.
• Chest: An MRI of the chest can look at the greater vessels, lungs and chest wall. An MRI chest is often used to provide additional information about disease processes seen on other types of tests.
  Blood vessels: Using an MRI to look at blood vessels and the flow of blood through them is called magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). It can find problems of the arteries and veins, such as an aneurysm, a blocked blood vessel, or a torn lining of a blood vessel (dissection). Sometimes a small amount of contrast material is used to see the blood vessels more clearly. With an automated moving table it is possible to scan the vessels from your chest all the way down to your toes in about thirty minutes. This test is non-invasive and does not require recovery time like a conventional X-ray-angiogram.
  Abdomen and pelvis: MRI can find problems in the organs and structures in the belly, such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder. It is used to find tumors, bleeding, infection, and blockage. In women, it can look at the uterus and ovaries. In men, it looks at the prostate. A Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatogram (MRCP) can non-invasively display the gallbladder and biliary ducts. A MRCP is used to look for gallstones that can cause blockages.
  Bones and joints: MRI can check for problems of the bones and joints, such as arthritis, problems with the temporomandibular joint, bone marrow problems, bone tumors, cartilage problems, torn ligaments or tendons, or infection. MRI can also tell if a bone is broken if an X-ray cannot. MRI is done more commonly than other tests to check some bone and joint problems. A MRI Arthrogram is sometimes performed to better evaluate cartilage within the joint space. For this procedure one of our Radiologists will inject a small amount of contrast into your joint and then a MRI will be performed. This a minimally invasive procedure and there is no recovery time.
  Spine: MRI can check the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc bulges, and spinal tumors. A Board Certified Neurological Radiologist will review your images.
  MRI Breast: This procedure goes above and beyond conventional breast imaging, often identifying breast tumors that other exams would fail to detect. It is a new option for your physician when presented with a problematic mammogram or physical examination, or when anticipating surgery for breast cancer. Your privacy is a top priority and you can have a female MRI Tech upon request for the MRI Breast imaging procedure.

You can bring your own music CD to listen to during your exam, or you can listen to a favorite FM radio station. Your technologist will be observing you through a window throughout your exam and should you need anything during the exam, feel free to alert the technologist via the intercom provided.

Important Note:
Please inform the technologist of any metallic foreign bodies that you may have from previous or recent surgeries. For example: pacemakers, dental work, hearing aids are a few that could potential have metal content.