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
• 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

• Body MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Brain MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Breast MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Chest MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
• Functional MRI (fMRI) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Heart Tests (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
• 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
• 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
• MRCP (MR Cholangiopancreatography) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Musculoskeletal MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Pelvic Floor MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Prostate MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (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
• Spine MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Tests for Lung Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) 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: Effects of horticultural therapy versus handiwork on anterior cingulate cortex activity...
• Article: Catecholaminergic Modulation of Large-Scale Network Dynamics Is Tied to the Reconfiguration...
• Article: Default mode network and dorsal attentional network connectivity changes as neural...
• 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

• Keeping Kids Still during Exams (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
• Pediatric MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Women

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

Patient Handouts

• Abdominal MRI scan (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