If you have any queries regarding your referral, you should always consult your GP, radiologist, physician or the staff of the MRI unit.

If you would like to suggest additional questions for this page, please contact us.

Please note that we can only answer general questions regarding MRI systems.

1. What is an MRI scanner?

2. What does "MRI" stand for?

3. How does an MRI scanner work?

4. Do MRI scanners use x-rays?

5. What parts of the body can MRI scanners take pictures of?

6. What does an MRI scanner look like?

7. What will happen when I arrive at the MRI unit?

8. Who performs MRI scans?

9. What will happen when I'm inside the scanner?

10. How long does an MRI scan take?

11. I'm claustrophobic - will I be able to have an MRI scan?

An MRI scanner is a very specialised piece of medical imaging equipment that takes images of the inside of your body.

MRI scanners make images of "slices" through your body. Unlike other forms of imaging equipment, an MRI scanner can take an image of a slice virtually anywhere through your body.

"MRI" stands for "Magnetic Resonance Imaging".

MRI scanners use very strong magnetic fields and radio-waves to take images.

The actual process is very complex however. There are a number of other websites explaining how MRI scanners work in more detail.

Please see the links to tutorials section of our website for more information.

No.

Unlike many other imaging devices in hospitals, MRI scanners don't use x-rays.

As a result, you won't get any x-ray dose from having an MRI scan.

MRI scanners can take images of many different parts of the body:

• head/brain
• chest
• abdomen
• pelvis
• joints:
• knees
• shoulders
• ankles
• breasts

There are many different types of MRI scanners, all with different shapes.

Most MRI scanners are large enough to fit your whole body into.

They consist of a large magnet with a hole in the middle. A couch moves the patient in and out of the magnet:

A typical MRI scanner.

Some scanners are "C"-shaped. These are known as "open" scanners. They are still large enough to fit your whole body into them, but are not fully enclosed:

Two typical "open" scanners.

MRI scanners use very strong magnetic fields to take images.

Therefore, before you enter the scan room, the staff need to make sure you don't have any metal objects on you.

You will be asked to:

• change out of your clothes into a hospital gown
• remove watches, belts, keys, coins, jewellery etc.
• fill in a questionnaire about your past medical history and past jobs

By wearing a hospital gown, the staff can be sure that there isn't any metal hidden in your clothes.

The staff will insist on you removing jewellery as this can be pulled off by the strong magnetic field, possibly injuring you or damaging the scanner.

The staff will also ask you about your past medical history to make sure you don't haven't got any metal implants from previous operations.

You MUST tell the staff if you have:

• a pacemaker
• aneurysm clips
• stents
• artificial heart valves
• artificial limbs
• contraceptive implants such as coils

The staff will also ask you about your past employment history. This is to make sure you don't have any metallic foreign bodies that you may not be aware of.

You MUST tell the staff if you've been employed in such areas as:

• metalworking
• armed forces

If you have any doubts whatsoever when filling in the questionnaire, please inform the staff.

MRI scans are performed by specially trained radiographers.

Radiographers undertake many years of training. In addition, MRI radiographers spend considerable time learning how to use MRI scanners.

Your scans will be viewed by a radiologist, a specially trained doctor who specialises in looking at images of patients. The radiologist may ask the radiographers to take additional scans while you are inside the scanner.

The radiographers will help you onto the couch.

They will position a coil over the part of your body that's going to be imaged.

They will then slide you on the couch into the magnet.

Once the radiographers have positioned you inside the scanner, they will go out of the room into a room next door.

They will be able to see you at all times through a large window. Also, they will be able to talk to you and listen to you through an intercom system.

The radiographers will tell you what is going to happen at each stage of your scan.

They will ask you to remain as still as possible during the scan.

The may also ask you to do things such as hold your breath for a few seconds while they are scanning.

You may not be prepared for the noise that an MRI scanner makes. Whilst scanning, MRI scanners make "clunking" or "buzzing" noises. These are quite normal but can be very loud.

The radiographers may issue you with ear protection before helping you into the scanner.

This depends on a number of things:

• the number of images the radiologist wants to take
• the number of different parts of your body the radiologist wants to image
• the type of images being acquired
• the level of detail the radiologist wants to see in the images

You should contact your MRI Unit for specific information regarding your scan.

MRI scanners have been designed to be more patient friendly in recent years.

Many modern scanners are now shorter and have very large bores.

The inside of the scanner is well lit and has its own ventilation.

The radiographers can see you at all times during the scan. They can see you through the window from the control room. Some scanners even have closed-circuit television cameras inside them so the radiographers can see you on a television screen in the control room.

There is a two-way intercom inside the scanner so that the radiographers can talk to you and you can talk to them at any time.

And all scanners have an alarm button for you to hold while you're in the scanner. If you need help at any time, you can push the alarm and the radiographers will help you.

If you are severely claustrophobic and don't feel you can go in a scanner, you should discuss your concerns with your GP, radiologist, physician or the staff of the MRI unit.