Once the exam is over, the technician will help your child off the table; if sedation was used, your child may be moved to a recovery area. An MRI exam is painless. Your child may have to lie still on the MRI table for minutes during the procedure, but there are brief breaks between each scan. If your child feels cold lying on the MRI table, a blanket can be provided. Unless sedation was used or you are told otherwise, your child can immediately return to normal routines and diet.
Most sedation wears off within hours, and any contrast material given should pass through the body in about 24 hours. The MRI images will be viewed by a radiologist who's specially trained in interpreting the scans.
The radiologist will send a report to your doctor, who'll discuss the results with you and explain what they mean. In most cases, results can't be given directly to the patient or family at the time of the test. If the MRI was done on an emergency basis, the results can be made available quickly.
MRIs are safe and relatively easy. No health risks are associated with the magnetic field or radio waves, since the low-energy radio waves use no radiation. The procedure can be repeated without side effects.
If your child requires sedation, you may discuss the risks and benefits of sedation with your provider. Also, because contrast solutions can cause allergic reactions in some kids, be sure to check with your doctor before your child receives any solution. There should be medical staff on hand who are prepared to handle an allergic reaction.
If your child has decreased kidney function, this is an important medical condition to discuss with the radiologist and technician before receiving IV contrast since it may lead to some rare complications. You can help your child prepare for an MRI by explaining the test in simple terms before the examination. Make sure to explain that pictures of the head will be taken and that the equipment will probably make knocking and buzzing noises.
If an injection of contrast fluid or sedation is needed, you can tell your child that the initial sting of the needle will be brief and that the test itself is painless.
If you have questions about the MRI procedure, speak with your doctor. You can also talk to the MRI technician before the exam. Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. The MRI machine makes a lot of noise. The technician may offer you earplugs. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. On this page Basics Summary Start Here. Learn More Related Issues Specifics.
See, Play and Learn Videos and Tutorials. Resources Find an Expert. Bowel motion is another source of motion artifacts in abdomen and pelvic MRI studies. This is less of a problem with state-of-the art scanners and techniques. Present data show no convincing evidence that non contrast MRI harms the fetus of a pregnant woman. However, if the need for the exam is not time sensitive your doctor may delay the exam until after delivery.
MRI gadolinium contrast agents are generally avoided during pregnancy except in very specific circumstances. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of any MRI procedure with you.
Doctors may perform MRI after the first trimester to assess the fetus for findings that are not fully evaluated by ultrasound. MRI may not always distinguish between cancer tissue and fluid, known as edema. An MRI exam typically costs more and may take more time than other imaging exams. Talk to your insurance provider if you have concerns about the cost of MRI.
Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations. The teddy bear denotes child-specific content. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database.
This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas. Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo.
Toggle navigation. What is MRI of the Body? What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare for the procedure? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure?
Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs. What are the limitations of MRI of the Body? Which test, procedure or treatment is best for me? Detailed MR images allow doctors to examine the body and detect disease. MR imaging of the body is performed to evaluate: organs of the chest and abdomen—including the heart, liver , biliary tract , kidneys , spleen , bowel, pancreas , and adrenal glands. Physicians use an MR examination to help diagnose or monitor treatment for conditions such as: tumors of the chest, abdomen or pelvis.
These items include: jewelry, watches, credit cards, and hearing aids, all of which can be damaged pins, hairpins, metal zippers, and similar metallic items, which can distort MRI images removable dental work pens, pocketknives, and eyeglasses body piercings mobile phones, electronic watches, and tracking devices.
People with the following implants may not be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area without first being evaluated for safety: some cochlear ear implants some types of clips used for brain aneurysms some types of metal coils placed within blood vessels some older cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers vagal nerve stimulators Tell the technologist if you have medical or electronic devices in your body.
MRI exams may be done on an outpatient basis. Benefits MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to radiation. MR images of the soft-tissue structures of the body—such as the heart, liver and many other organs— is more likely in some instances to identify and accurately characterize diseases than other imaging methods. This detail makes MRI an invaluable tool in early diagnosis and evaluation of many focal lesions and tumors.
MRI has proven valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions, including cancer, heart and vascular disease , and muscular and bone abnormalities. MRI can detect abnormalities that might be obscured by bone with other imaging methods.
MRI allows physicians to assess the biliary system noninvasively and without contrast injection. The MRI gadolinium contrast material is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than the iodine-based contrast materials used for x-rays and CT scanning.
MRI provides a noninvasive alternative to x-ray, angiography and CT for diagnosing problems of the heart and blood vessels. Risks The MRI exam poses almost no risk to the average patient when appropriate safety guidelines are followed. If sedation is used, there is a risk of using too much. However, your vital signs will be monitored to minimize this risk. The strong magnetic field is not harmful to you.
However, it may cause implanted medical devices to malfunction or distort the images. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a recognized complication related to injection of gadolinium contrast. It is exceptionally rare with the use of newer gadolinium contrast agents.
It usually occurs in patients with serious kidney disease. Your doctor will carefully assess your kidney function before considering a contrast injection.
There is a very slight risk of an allergic reaction if your exam uses contrast material. Such reactions are usually mild and controlled by medication. If you have an allergic reaction, a doctor will be available for immediate assistance. Although there are no known health effects, evidence has shown that very small amounts of gadolinium can remain in the body, particularly the brain, after multiple MRI exams.
This is most likely to occur in patients receiving multiple MRI exams over their lifetime for monitoring chronic or high-risk health conditions. The contrast agent is mostly eliminated from the body through the kidneys. If you are a patient in this category, consult with your doctor about the possibility of gadolinium retention, as this effect varies from patient to patient.
IV contrast manufacturers indicate mothers should not breastfeed their babies for hours after contrast material is given. However, the most recent American College of Radiology ACR Manual on Contrast Media reports that studies show the amount of contrast absorbed by the infant during breastfeeding is extremely low.
Staging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Send us your feedback Did you find the information you were looking for? Yes No. Area Code:. Phone no:. Radiologist preparing patient for magnetic resonance imaging MRI exam.
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