MRI Exam is here for you!

Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses friendly magnetic fields to produce an unparalleled view inside the human body. MRI has become the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for most malignancies and neurological diseases of the brain and spine including, but not limited to:

• Brain tumours
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Cervical cancer
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The technology's ability to generate, non-invasively, superb anatomical details of both bone and soft tissues has made MRI the preferred modality for most orthopaedic applications including imaging of:

• Knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, elbow
• Ligaments and tendons
• Back pain and failed back syndrome

Good news - no special preparation is needed. Eat and take any prescribed medication as usual, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

One important thing to remember, though: MRI and metal do not mix.

An MRI system has a powerful magnet inside, which is why you need to follow these guidelines:

• Tell your physician and the MRI staff if you have a pacemaker, prosthesis, surgical clips, metal implants, or any other metal objects in your body. Some implants, such as a pacemaker, may be affected by an MRI exam.
• Tell your physician and the MRI staff if you do work with metal finishing or grinding equipment. It is important that the eye area is free of any metallic particles.
• Leave metal or magnetized objects at home or give them to the MRI staff for safekeeping when you arrive for the exam. Items that might be affected by the magnet include watches, coins, keys, bobby pins or other hair clips, pocketknives, and credit cards.
• Avoid wearing eye makeup because metal flakes or slivers are found in some eye shadows.

If you are severely claustrophobic, please discuss this with your physician before coming for the MRI exam. Your physician may suggest a mild sedative.

Finally, if you have additional questions or want more information before your exam, please don't hesitate to contact your physician or the staff of the MRI facility.

The MRI exam itself is painless - you won't feel a thing. MRI Machines are a little noisy but you will be given earplugs to keep you comfortable.

As with any exam, the hardest part is to be patient. Just relax and remain still. The MRI staff will keep you informed every step of the way. Remember, they are there to assist you. Should you become uncomfortable, need help, or have questions at any point during your exam, just say so. There is a built-in intercom in the system so you can talk with the staff.

The length of your exam depends on the type of study your doctor has ordered. In most cases, MRI patients are done and on their way home well within an hour.

You will be given comfortable clothing to wear during the exam and your personal belongings will be safely locked in your own change room.

It varies from clinic to clinic, however we will get you the best price nearest you.

The costs of an MRI scan at a private clinic are not usually covered by the Medical Services Plan of British Columbia. At present, most extended health plans will not cover these costs. Some employers, disability insurers and third party payers may cover the costs for you.

You can receive MRI scans provided you are referred by a physician.

Simply mail or fax a requisition form signed by a referring physician. We will call you directly to schedule an appointment. We will schedule your appointment for the earliest possible date at a time convenient for you.

Visit our Learning Centre or you can contact us by filling out our Ask an Expert form.

Both MRI and CT scans make cross-sectional images (slices) of almost any area of the body using a sophisticated computer system. The major difference is that an MRI uses a large magnet and radio waves to produce images while a CT scanner uses x-rays. Therefore, with the MRI studies, there is no exposure to x-rays. Both systems complement each other well as they both have their inherent strengths and weaknesses; however, CT usually can only directly acquire transverse (or crosswise) images, whereas MRI can directly acquire slices in any plane. In addition, MRI is superior when it comes to soft tissue contrast, and there are no known side effects. The ability to view pictures from multiple directions, high tissue contrast, and absence of x-rays make MRI a very powerful and increasingly popular imaging tool.

Our radiologist will interpret your scan, it will get transcribed, signed, faxed, and mailed to your doctor within two business days. Your doctor will have access to your MRI scans through the internet and will schedule a follow-up appointment with you to review your results.

The part of the scanner that takes the pictures is located in the center of the scanner. Therefore, in order to do a scan of your head, most of your body must slide into the scanner for proper positioning. The same is true for other studies of the spine and upper extremities. However, due to advance in technology, there are now short bore and wide bore scanners. These shorter scanners mean that much less of your body has to be in the machine itself, in order to get a proper image. For example, if you were having a head MRI, previously you had to lie on the machine and allow half of your body to enter the machine. Now, due to the shorter bore, you only have to enter your head into the actual machine while most of your body stays out.

Surgically implanted metallic pins, wires, rods, etc. are usually okay to be scanned, as are hip, knee or shoulder replacements, etc. All dental implants and fillings are also okay. However, certain metallic devices can cause interference with the scan, and their presence during the study may cause injury to you if the force of the magnetic field pulls the metal object. It is particularly important for us to know if you have a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a muscle stimulator or other implanted electrical device, a history of heart or brain surgery, brain aneurysm clips, shrapnel, or a history of getting metal fragments in your eyes. When you have the scan, even though we are focusing on one specific area, your whole body does go into the scanner. In fact, just walking into the scanning room puts you within the magnetic field since the magnet is never turned "off". That is why we have to know about metal anywhere in/on your body. You will be asked on numerous occasions about any metal implants. Please try to be as thorough as possible when answering as this is for your safety.