Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI scan use magnetic waves to image the various focal areas of the body.
An MRI Scan - an acronym for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan - is a Test process where powerful and controlled magnetic fields, radio waves and computer technology combine to produce highly detailed pictures of the inside of the human body. Since an MRI Scan is usually done on the brain, the procedure or Test is sometimes also simply called a Brain MRI or Cranial MRI. An MRI Scan differs from a CT Scan or X-Ray in that it doesn’t involve the ionizing radiation of X-rays, which is known to sometimes leave behind harmful effects over the long term. The biggest advantage that an MRI Scan has (over, say, the CT Scan or Tomography Scan) is that it produces 3D images instead of 2D images through 3D reconstruction is available now for CT scan also. The extra ‘vision’ and ‘understanding’ this additional dimension of depth offers is invaluable for medical purposes - be it diagnosis or treatment. This makes an MRI Scan highly effective (and unmatched) when it comes to analyzing small structures of the brain, such as, for example, brain stem or the pituitary gland. An MRI Scan usually doesn’t have any risks associated with it.
Unlike CT Scans and X-Rays, the MRI scan procedure is safe and radiation-free, implying that it is safe even for pediatric and repetitive studies. The advantages of MR Imaging scan are:
MRI Scan cost depend on various factors such as the consumables, number of films, time involved. Please search below to find the MRI Scan cost and other details for your MRI tests. Please note: If your doctor's prescription specifically mentions "CEMRI" or "Contrast", it implies that your require Contrast Enhanced MRI Scan / MRI Scan with Contrast. Such a scan may require additionally preparation and a Creatinine test, before MRI contrast is administered.
While an MRI Scan will generate clear images of ‘dense organs and structures’ (ie, those with a high density), substances with a low density can turn out hazy and hard to detect. To make the latter more clearly visible, the patient may be administered a special ‘dye’ - technically referred to as a ‘Contrast Material’ - via injection (done to make the liver, gall bladder, urinary tract or blood vessels stand out sharper in the Scan results), orally (to enhance images of the digestive tract) or via Enema (this refers to instances when greater clarity is required for the intestines, and the Contrast Material is inserted through the rectum). To help the kidneys remove the Contrast Material after the procedure is over, one may be advised to drink a lot of fluid.
Tesla is the unit of measurement for measuring magnetic strength. 3T MRI Machines and their price are the more expensive and provide for better clarity in imaging.
To understand in layman's terms, you may consider the comparison between a 3.0 Tesla MRI vs a 1.5 Tesla MRI to be that of a 10 Megapixel Camera Photo vs 5 Megapixel Camera Photo.
Most MRI Scan centres in Delhi/NCR use 1.5 Tesla MRI Machines. Several leading hospitals such as Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Medanta Medicity, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, use 3.0 Tesla MRI Machines for MRI scan in Delhi. Please search above MRI test cost or MRI scan rate in Delhi NCR, India.
The Open MRI Scanner is a boon for patients who feel claustrophobic (fear of closed spaces) in a conventional closed MRI System. However, due to its open nature, only limited scans such as Knee, Shoulder, Spine, Brain, Elbow and Wrist are possible.
MR imaging of the body is performed to evaluate the following :
Doctors use an MRI scan examination to help diagnose or monitor conditions such as:
As soon as the patient enters the MRI scanning room, the technician or doctor will ask you to lie on the table. An MRI scanner is a short cylinder open from both sides. You will enter the MRI scanner either from the head or from feet, depending on the part that is being scanned. A computer is used to operate the MRI scanner. The computer is placed in a different room to keep it away from the magnetic field generated by the MRI machine. The radiologist will communicate with you via an intercom to guide you and to make sure you are comfortable. Sometimes, a contrast material is used intravenously during the MRI exam majorly gadolinium or iodine contrast (In MRI with Contrast). More images will be captured during or following the injection. When the MRI scan is complete, you may be asked to wait while the radiologist checks the images in case more are needed. The technologist will remove your IV (Intravenous) line after the exam is over. The entire MRI procedure may take 30-60 minutes.
Very little preparation is required prior to an MRI scan. You will be asked to wear a gown. As magnets are used in the MRI scanner, no metal objects must be present in the scanners. The doctor will ask the patient to remove all metal jewelry and all types of accessories that can interfere with the MRI scan procedure. Individuals cannot go for an MRI scan if they have any metal objects inside their body, such as bullets, shrapnel, cochlear implants, pacemakers, etc. Some MRI scan uses an injection of contrast liquid (gadolinium) to improve visibility of some specific tissue that may be relevant to the scan. You must inform the technologists if you are claustrophobic. In such cases, the doctor recommends mild sedative prior to the MRI scan to make the procedure more comfortable. Women should always tell their doctor and technologist if they are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. There might be a risk of harm for the fetus during an MRI scan.
After the completion of the MRI scan examination, the computer generates visual pictures of the areas that were scanned. These pictures can be transferred to a hard copy (film). The radiologist interprets the MRI images in the form of a report. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan procedure lasts 15 to 90 minutes depending on the body part being scanned and the number of images being taken. MRI Reports will be available within 24-48 hours of the procedure in the maximum cases.
MRI Scans at House of Diagnostics are offered on a first come-first serve basis. Often, as the factors listed below may change from one study to the next, getting a MRI scan often involves a waiting time, as the exact length of your procedure and that of the patients before you, often also depends on the patient's conditions and cooperation.
If your question is how long should an MRI take, Please note that several factors can together determine the time required for MRI Scan.