MRI Exam Guide
Many readers of this hypertext book have asked what they can expect during their first MRI exam. This chapter is intended to help those readers prepare for their MRI exam. Although some familiarity with the preceding chapters of this text is recommended, it is not essential to understand this chapter. Your MRI exam may not proceed exactly as described here, but it will be similar enough so that this description will help you prepare for your exam.
Your MRI will be performed at a location which will be referred to as the MRI Center. When you first arrive at an MRI Center, you will report to the reception/waiting room.
Here you will check in and fill out any necessary paperwork for your exam.Jewelry, watches, coins, keys, and credit cards are incompatible with the magnetic resonance imaging procedure.
You will need to leave these items at home or leave them in a locker provided in a dressing room at the MRI Center. These objects can be attracted by the magnet on the imager or distort the images. Here is a picture of a metal belt buckle being attracted by the magnetic field of the imager. There is clearly a large force pulling the belt buckle into the magnetic field. Alternatively these objects can inhibit radio frequency waves from getting into the body and thus produce distorted images. Certain articles of clothing, such as metal zippers, rivets, wires, and belt buckles, are incompatible with the imaging procedure for the same reasons. You will need to leave these items of clothing in the lockers and change into an imaging gown which contains no metal. The MRI Center also has nursing, scan, control, computer, and reading rooms. You will only see the nursing area if you require special nursing assistance, for example if you have an intravenous line for medication. The scan room is where the imager is located and is where you will be for your exam. The technologists operate the imager from the control room. The computer room is where the imaging hardware and computer are located. The last room is called the reading room. This room consists of large light boxes on which a radiologist will read your images.
In addition to the receptionist who greeted you when you arrived, there are many individuals working as a team to make your MRI exam happen. A MRI nurse will take care of your nursing needs which might include administration of any medications or contrast agents that you may need. A MRI technologist will interact with you during your scan. The technologist will take you in and out of the scanner as well as operate the scanner. A radiologist will prescribe which imaging sequences are to be used to record the magnetic resonance images, and will read or interpret the images. Many other individuals work behind the scenes to make the center functions properly. You will most likely not meet these individuals, but they include the custodial staff, service engineers, and scientists, all of whom keep the imager clean and functioning properly.
