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Your Highfield MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is a way to look inside your body without the use of X-rays. It is completely painless. MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to obtain remarkably detailed cross-sectional images of the body. This allows your doctor to see certain types of tissue and can provide very important information about the brain, spine, joints, and internal organs.
A Highfield MRI simply refers to the way the equipment is configured: it has a very large opening that is flared at both ends, and the magnetic bore is only three feet in length—about half the length of conventional tube MRI equipment. Since conventional, older MRI equipment could give some patients a claustrophobic or uncomfortable feeling, the Highfield MRI completely takes away this problem. If you are feeling anxious about an upcoming MRI, we encourage you to come to our facility and see the equipment. Once patients see how wide the opening flares out, anxiety is eliminated.
Before your exam, the technologist will ask you to remove anything metallic, such as dentures, jewelry, hairpins, etc. Patients wearing clothing without metal of any kind, such as sweats, will not need to change. Scrubs will be provided for those who are asked to change for the exam.
Once you are in position on the exam table, it is important that you remain as still as possible. You will hear knocking noises and the hum of the machine, which is normal, but you will be able to talk to the technologist during your procedure. You can also listen to the radio, or you may bring a favorite CD or choose one at our facility.
The exam usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. If your doctor orders your MRI exam with contrast, the exam might take longer. Contrast helps make certain details especially clear. It is routine for certain MRI exams and is accomplished simply by an injection of fluid into a vein (usually in your arm) prior to the MRI.
After the exam, a
radiologist will analyze your images and send a signed report with his
or her interpretation to your physician, who will give you the MRI scan
results. All radiologists at Health Images are Board Certified by the American Board of Radiology and Fellowship trained.
Due to the magnetic nature of an MRI, patients with certain metals in their bodies are unable to have an MRI exam. Examples of this are a pacemaker or pacing wires, inner ear implants, and certain metal implants, among others.
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