MRI Scans

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside your body. Health care professionals use MRI scans to diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn ligaments to tumors. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain and spinal cord.

During the scan, you lie on a table that slides inside a tunnel-shaped machine. Doing the scan can take a long time, and you must stay still. The scan is painless. The MRI machine makes a lot of noise. The technician may offer you earplugs.

Before you get a scan, tell your doctor if you

• Are pregnant
• Have pieces of metal in your body. You might have metal in your body if you have a shrapnel or bullet injury or if you are a welder.
• Have metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or a metal artificial joint

Start Here

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (Food and Drug Administration)

Related Issues

• Contrast Materials (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• How to Read Your Radiology Report (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI: Is Gadolinium Safe for People with Kidney Problems? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Cardiac MRI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
• Chest MRI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
• Knee MRI (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance (MR) Defecography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Spine (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- Head (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Dynamic Pelvic Floor (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
• Magnetic Resonance, Functional (fMRI) -- Brain (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - PDF Also in Spanish
• MR Angiography (MRA) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MR Enterography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Body (Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Breast (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Chest (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Musculoskeletal System (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Prostate (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Shoulder MRI (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Urography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Videos and Tutorials

• Getting an MRI (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Your Radiologist Explains Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

Statistics and Research

• Brain Scans Offer Insights into Loss of Money Skills (National Institute on Aging)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Technologies in the Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome.
• Article: Imaging of Pericardial Disease.
• Article: The value of magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose pathological complete...
• MRI Scans -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• RadiologyInfo: Glossary of Terms (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American College of Radiology Accredited Facility Search (American College of Radiology)
• Food and Drug Administration
• RadiologyInfo (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Children

• Children's (Pediatric) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
• Keeping Kids Still during Exams (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Brain (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Lumbar Spine (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)

Teenagers

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)

Women

• MRI Safety during Pregnancy (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Abdominal MRI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Arm MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Chest MRI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Head MRI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Heart MRI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Leg MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lumbar MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• MRI and low back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Pelvis MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish