The scan room contains a
large, donut-shaped magnet with a padded table, which
moves you into the center of the machine once you are
positioned. Whether you go into the machine
head first or feet first and how far in you
go is determined by the type of exam being performed.
In some cases, a special piece of equipment called a
surface coil, which is like a radio antenna, is placed
on or wrapped around the part of your body that is
being imaged. For the sake
of clear pictures, you will be asked to hold very still
and, in some cases, to hold your breath for up to 30
seconds. There is no pain or other sensation during
the exam; however, an MRI is a noisy machine that
produces intermittent humming, clicking, and knocking
sounds. Earplugs are available, and we provide an
assortment of music to help you relax. You are also welcome
to bring your own CD. The scanner is equipped
with an emergency-assistance alarm button and a two-way
intercom for communication with the technologist. For
some exams, a "contrast agent" (a drug) will
be injected into a vein in your arm to improve the
quality of the images.
How
long does an MRI exam take?
The length of MRI examinations
can vary from 20 minutes to one hour, averaging 45
minutes. Each test consists of several sequences or
collections of pictures gathered over 2 to 10 minutes.
After the exam
After checking to be sure the exam yielded high-quality
images, the technologist will remove you from the
scanner. There are no post-exam instructions.
You may resume your normal diet and activities.
A
board-certified Radiologist reviews and interprets
the images from your exam and sends the results
to your referring physician. Your referring
physician will inform you of the results, which
are usually available within 72 hours. The
actual films created at the time of your exam
are also sent to your referring physician.
The content of the Turville Bay
MRI and Radiation Oncology Center website is intended to educate the
reader and provide information. The content is not intended to be, nor
should it be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment.
If you need medical advice or other
health care assistance, you should always consult with a qualified
health care provider. You should never disregard professional medical
advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on the site.
