If you are receiving IV CONTRAST for your exam, have nothing to eat 1 hour prior to your exam time. You may drink clear liquids (example: water, ginger ale, apple juice). 

Because the MRI system uses a very powerful magnet, there are many items that cannot be brought into the exam room. Although a private locker will be provided, it is best to leave certain items at home or with someone during your MRI exam, including:

• Cell phones, pagers, iPads, or any other electronic device
• Credit cards, driver’s license, and any other card with a magnetic strip
• Loose change
• Bobby pins, safety pins or any other item with metallic pieces
• Any loose metallic items on clothing or body
• Glasses, hearing aids and items such as TENS Units will not be able to go into the exam room, but can be worn until just before entering the MRI room

Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes, such as a sweatsuit. Be sure there are no metal zippers, snaps or buckles. Do not wear earrings, hairpins, or jewelry. Do not apply eye shadow or mascara.

This exam may not be performed if you have a cardiac pacemaker, cerebral aneurysm clips or a metallic hearing implant. If you are a sheet metal worker or have ever had metal fragments in your eye(s), an orbit x-ray will be taken prior to your MRI exam.

After checking in, you will be escorted to a changing room. You will then meet the registered MRI technologist who will be performing your exam. The technologist will review the screening questionnaire and the procedure with you, answering any questions you may have.

When you are ready, you will be asked to lie down on the cushioned MRI table. Many MRI exams require the use of a coil, which is placed on or around the body part being scanned. The coil is a lightweight device that acts as an antenna to receive the radio frequency signal coming out of your body and transmit that data to a computer, which then generates the images. If it has been determined that your study requires the use of a contrast material (or dye), the technologist or nurse will perform the injection and administer the contrast. Let us know if you have any allergies. This contrast does not contain iodine.

The table will slowly move into position within the large doughnut-shaped magnet. We provide you with noise-canceling headphones and your choice of music, as you will hear a series of loud thumping noises as the scan is performed. We ask that you keep very still to help ensure that the images come out clear. Throughout the entire exam, you will be able to communicate with the technologist through an intercom. Orthopedic MRI exam can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the body part being scanned.

An MRI scan may be done to check for certain cancers or other illnesses. The MRI may show
tissue that has cancer cells and tissue that does not have cancer cells.

An abdominal MRI can be used to guide doctors or surgeons during a procedure, such as a
biopsy. An MRI scan may be used if surgery is needed to remove a growth or lump.

An MRI scan of the abdomen can show healthcare providers how well a treatment for a disease
is working and the results of a quality MRI scan can help in the plan for the best treatment
forward. This includes the lungs, liver, stomach, spine, pelvis, kidneys, colon, pancreas, other
organs and all portions of the abdomen. A radiologist who subspecializes in body imaging
conducts imaging exams between the throat and the pelvis.

MRI provides state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging of the breast, heart, chest, abdomen, pelvis,
and blood vessels. MRIs are performed by experienced MRI technologists and interpreted by
subspecialty-trained radiology physicians. MRI does not expose patients to radiation and is safe
for patients with allergies to x-ray dyes or moderately impaired kidney function.