Magnetic resonance imaging – when to perform? How to prepare for the test?

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Magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging test with a wide diagnostic application. It allows you to analyze the entire body or selected parts of it in terms of inflammation, trauma or neoplastic changes. During the examination, the patient must lie still in the narrow tunnel, which causes unpleasant associations for many people. So how do you prepare for an MRI?

Advantages and limitations of magnetic resonance imaging

Although ultrasound and X-ray examinations are most often performed as part of imaging diagnostics, they are complemented magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. All these studies have their advantages, but also limitations. This is why they are equally important as they complement each other which increases the chance of an accurate diagnosis.

In the case of magnetic resonance imaging, the possibility of obtaining very accurate images is a big plus. This is due to better contrast and observation of the body in many planes. MRI device allows you to examine selected organs (e.g. heart, brain), but also obtain a picture of the whole body (Whole Body Scan). MRI allows you to safely examine soft tissues, muscles, joints, bones and the nervous system. Multiorgan diagnostics is useful in detecting neoplastic lesions and metastases, as well as in analyzing extensive injuries or locating an unidentified cause of pain.

Did your doctor recommend an MRI? Compare the offers of clinics in your area.

Despite the versatility of MRI and its non-invasive nature, this method has drawbacks. MRI is a static test that requires you to stay still. This does not allow for dynamic research, and sometimes it is in motion that disturbing changes become apparent.

Quite a lot a limitation on magnetic resonance imaging is its availability. In Poland, you have to wait for an MRI, and the queues for the National Health Fund are long. Meanwhile, ultrasound or X-ray in many cases can be performed almost immediately. The solution to this is to do MRI privately. Although MRI does not have any long-term side effects, it does have some contraindications. They concern people whose body has metal foreign bodies, pacemakers, neurostimulators or artificial valves.

The use of an intravenous contrast agent during MRI is associated with a separate set of contraindications – the main one is allergy.

Indications for magnetic resonance imaging

Typically, doctors will issue a referral for MRI when other imaging and laboratory tests are insufficient to make a diagnosis. Due to the non-invasive nature of the procedure, you can also choose it when we care about general health prophylaxis.

We can choose from, among others:

1. whole body magnetic resonance imaging;
2. magnetic resonance imaging of the head;
3. abdominal magnetic resonance;
4. MRI of the pelvis, heart, spine, chest, bones and joints.

The indication for magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases of the nervous system, tumors and neoplastic changes, inflammations and injuries of soft tissues, vascular diseases and changes in the skeletal or muscular system.

Examples of diseases and conditions that can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging include:

1. diseases of the spine resulting from injuries and degenerations, discopathies, demyelination, vascular malformations. Indications for MRI of the spine: recurrent back pain, stiffness and limited mobility of the spine, limb paresis, postoperative diagnostics, cancer prevention.
2. injuries and diseases of the muscles and skeletal system, including inflammation, muscle atrophy, damage to cartilage elements and ligaments, fractures, bone displacement, edema. Indications for MRI of the musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness, degenerative diseases, injuries of bones and joints.
3. nervous system diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Arnold-Chiari syndrome and other malformations, aneurysms, malformations, orbital diseases, encephalitis and meningitis. Indications for MRI of the head: headache of unknown origin, head injuries.
4. cardiovascular diseases and heart diseases: heart attacks, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, acute aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm.
5. tumors and metastases.

Preparation for magnetic resonance imaging

Before going for an MRI scan, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications for the examination. A medical interview and a questionnaire in which the issues that should be reported to the doctor will be listed.

Be sure to follow the recommendations before the MRI scan:

1. have your identity card and the results of other imaging tests with you; in the case of contrast administration, laboratory tests will be required to take into account the level of creatinine in the blood;
2. wear clothes without metal parts (buttons or zippers);
3. show up on an empty stomach during the examination – the last meal can be eaten approx. 4 hours before the MRI, but the recommendations vary depending on the medical center;
4. if the MRI is performed under anesthesia, do not eat or drink for 6 hours before the examination;
5. give up makeup, hairspray or mousse – cosmetics may contain metal particles;
6. there is no need to discontinue chronic medications;
7. in the room with the magnetic resonance imaging device, we cannot have: metal elements (including keys and coins), magnetic cards, jewelery, watches, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

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Magnetic resonance imaging – how does it work?

Issue the operation of magnetic resonance imaging technically, it is usually not relevant to the patient. However, the procedure associated with the tunneling of the MRI machine in the tunnel can seem serious and disturbing. It is therefore worth knowing what exactly is happening during the test and why it is safe.

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves, as well as water that is ubiquitous in the human body. The MRI scanner creates a strong magnetic field that also occurs naturally around the Earth. It acts on the water-forming hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Then, radio waves are emitted, which meet these atoms on their way. As a result of a phenomenon called resonance, a computer can read information about the structure of the body and create an image of great diagnostic value.

Radio waves and magnetic field are not harmful to humans, and there is no limit to the number of MRI examinations that can be performed. A greater risk is associated with the popular X-ray. In the case of MRI, the danger appears only in special circumstances, i.e. in the case of pacemakers and other metal elements present in the body – therefore they are a contraindication to the procedure.