What will a brain and spine mri show

Most MRI exams are painless. However, some patients find it uncomfortable to remain still. Others may feel closed-in claustrophobic while in the MRI scanner. The scanner can be noisy. It is normal for the area of your body being imaged to feel slightly warm.

If it bothers you, tell the radiologist or technologist. It is important that you remain perfectly still while the images are being taken. This is typically only a few seconds to a few minutes at a time. You will know when images are being recorded because you will hear and feel loud tapping or thumping sounds.

The coils that generate the radio waves make these sounds when they are activated. You will be provided with earplugs or headphones to reduce the noise made by the scanner. You may be able to relax between imaging sequences. However, you will need to keep the same position as much as possible without moving. You will usually be alone in the exam room. However, the technologist will be able to see, hear, and speak with you at all times using a two-way intercom.

Many facilities allow a friend or parent to stay in the room if they have also been screened for safety. Children will be given appropriately sized earplugs or headphones during the exam. Music may be played through the headphones to help pass the time. MRI scanners are air-conditioned and well-lit. In some cases, IV injection of contrast material may be given before the images are obtained. The IV needle may cause you some discomfort and you may experience some bruising. There is also a very small chance of skin irritation at the site of the IV tube insertion.

Some patients may have a temporary metallic taste in their mouth after the contrast injection. If you do not require sedation, no recovery period is necessary. You may resume your usual activities and normal diet immediately after the exam. On very rare occasions, a few patients experience side effects from the contrast material. These may include nausea, headache, and pain at the site of injection. It is very rare that patients experience hives, itchy eyes, or other allergic reactions to the contrast material.

If you have allergic symptoms, tell the technologist. A radiologist or other doctor will be available for immediate assistance. A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images.

The radiologist will send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician, who will share the results with you. You may need a follow-up exam. If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam further evaluates a potential issue with more views or a special imaging technique.

It may also see if there has been any change in an issue over time. Follow-up exams are often the best way to see if treatment is working or if a problem needs attention.

High-quality images depend on your ability to remain perfectly still and follow breath-holding instructions while the images are being recorded. If you are anxious, confused or in severe pain, you may find it difficult to lie still during imaging.

A person who is very large may not fit into certain types of MRI machines. There are weight limits on the scanners. Implants and other metallic objects can make it difficult to obtain clear images. Patient movement can have the same effect. A very irregular heartbeat may affect the quality of images. This is because some techniques time the imaging based on the electrical activity of the heart.

MRI is generally not recommended for seriously injured patients. However, this decision is based on clinical judgment. This is because traction devices and life support equipment may distort the MR images. As a result, they must be kept away from the area to be imaged. Some trauma patients, however, may need MRI.

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. 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.

Another complication is an allergic reaction to contrast dye. During some MRI examinations, contrast dye is injected into the bloodstream to give a clearer image of blood vessels in the area being scanned. The most common type of contrast dye is gadolinium. Allergic reactions to the dye are often mild and easy to control with medication. But, sometimes anaphylactic reactions and even deaths can occur.

Before the test, tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker. Your doctor may suggest another method for inspecting your lumbar spine, such as a CT scan, depending on the type of pacemaker. You doctor will ask you to remove all jewelry and piercings and change into a hospital gown before the scan. An MRI uses magnets that can sometimes attract metals. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any metal implants or if any of the following items are present in your body:.

Tell your doctor about this so they can prescribe anti-anxiety medications. In some cases, you can also be sedated during the scan. In that case, be sure to arrange for a ride home after the procedure.

An MRI machine looks like a large metal-and-plastic doughnut with a bench that slowly glides you into the center of the opening. The entire process can take from 30 to 90 minutes. If contrast dye will be used, a nurse or doctor will inject the contrast dye through a tube inserted into one of your veins. In some cases, you may need to wait up to an hour for the dye to work its way through your bloodstream and into your spine.

The MRI technician will have you lie on the bench, either on your back, side, or stomach. On occasion, some people with metal fillings in their teeth may experience some slight tingling of the teeth during the procedure.

Move slowly when getting up from the scanner table to prevent any dizziness or lightheadedness from lying flat for the length of the procedure. If any sedatives were used for the procedure, you may need to rest until the sedatives have worn off. You will also need someone to drive you home. If contrast dye is used, you may be watched for a period for any side effects or reactions to the contrast dye, such as itching, swelling, rash, or trouble breathing.

If you notice any pain, redness, or swelling at the IV site after you go home, tell your healthcare provider. It could be a sign of infection or other type of reaction. Otherwise, there is no special type of care needed after an MRI scan of the spine and brain. You may go back to your usual diet and activities, unless your healthcare provider tells you differently.

Your healthcare provider may give you more instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation. Search Encyclopedia. Why might I need an MRI of the spine and brain? MRI may be used to check the brain or spinal cord for injuries, structural abnormalities, or certain other conditions, such as: Tumors Collections of pus abscesses Problems of the spine or brain you are born with congenital Weakening and ballooning of an artery aneurysm Abnormal and dilated veins venous malformations Bleeding into the brain or spinal cord Area of bleeding just under the covering of the brain subdural hematoma Degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis Problem in the brain caused by lack of oxygen hypoxic encephalopathy Inflammation or infection of the brain encephalomyelitis Fluid in the brain hydrocephalus Cause of epilepsy seizures Pituitary gland disorders Herniation or degeneration of disks of the spine MRI may also be done to help plan surgeries of the spine, such as decompression of a pinched nerve or spinal fusion.

What are the risks of an MRI of the spine and brain? There is no risk of exposure to radiation during an MRI procedure. Because of the strong magnet in an MRI scanner, MRI cannot be used if you have: Implanted pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator Some older intracranial aneurysm clips Cochlear implants Certain prosthetic devices Implanted medicine infusion pumps or medicine ports Neurostimulators Bone-growth stimulators Certain intrauterine contraceptive devices Any other type of iron-based metal implants Tattoos or body piercings Internal metal objects or fragments, such as bullets or shrapnel, surgical clips, pins, plates, screws, metal sutures, or wire mesh Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or think you may be.

Before the MRI, it is very important that you tell the technologist if any of the following apply to you: You are claustrophobic and think that you will be unable to lie still inside the scanning machine, in which case you may be given a sedative You have a pacemaker or have had heart valves replaced You have any type of implanted pump, such as an insulin pump You have metal plates, pins, metal implants, surgical staples, or aneurysm clips You have any metal fragments anywhere in the body You have permanent eyeliner or tattoos You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant You have ever had a bullet wound You have ever worked with metal for example, a metal grinder or welder You have any body piercings You have an intrauterine device IUD You are wearing a medicine patch You may get medicine sedative to help you relax before the procedure, so plan to have someone drive you home afterward.

What happens during an MRI of the spine and brain? Generally, MRI of the spine and brain follows this process: You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, hairpins, removable dental work, or other objects that may get in the way of the procedure.

If you are asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear. If an IV line was put in, it will be removed. What happens after an MRI of the spine and brain? To detect specific problems, your child may be given a contrast solution through an IV. The solution is painless as it goes into the vein. It highlights certain problems of the cervical spine such as infection or inflammation so doctors can see more detail in specific areas.

The technician will ask if your child is allergic to any medications or food before the contrast solution is given. The contrast solution used in MRI tests is generally safe. However, allergic reactions can occur. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of receiving contrast solution in your child's case. You can stay in the MRI room with your child until the test begins, and in some centers you may be able to stay throughout the test.

Otherwise, you'll join the technician in an outer room or be asked to stay in a waiting room. If you're nearby you'll be able to watch through a large window and talk to your child through an intercom during breaks between the scans.

This can soothe your child if he or she is awake in the MRI machine. An MRI of the cervical spine usually takes about minutes to perform. Your child will lie on the movable scanning table while the technologist places him or her into position. A special plastic device called a coil may be placed above your child's neck. The table will slide into the tunnel and the technician will take images of the neck.

Each scan will last a few minutes. As the exam proceeds, your child will hear repetitive sounds from the machine, which are normal. Your child may be given headphones to listen to music or earplugs to block the noise, and will have access to a call button in case he or she becomes uneasy during the test. If sedated, your child will be monitored at all times and will be connected to a machine that checks the heartbeat, breathing, and oxygen level.