Magnetic resonance imaging

Reasons for MRI

MRI is done for many reasons. It is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel diseases, or infection. MRI also may be done to provide more information about a problem seen on an X-ray, ultrasound scan, or CT scan. Contrast material may be used during MRI to show abnormal tissue more clearly. An MRI scan can be done for the:

• Head. MRI can look at the brain for tumors, an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, nerve injury, and other problems, such as damage caused by a stroke. MRI can also find problems of the eyes and optic nerves , and the ears and auditory nerves.
• Chest. MRI of the chest can look at the heart, the valves, and coronary blood vessels . It can show if the heart or lungs are damaged. MRI of the chest may also be used to look for breast cancer.
• Blood vessels. Using MRI to look at blood vessels and the flow of blood through them is called magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). It can find problems of the arteries and veins, such as an aneurysm, a blocked blood vessel, or the torn lining of a blood vessel (dissection). Sometimes contrast material is used to see the blood vessels more clearly.
• Abdomen and pelvislivergallbladderpancreaskidneysbladderIn men, it looks at the prostate.
• Bones and joints. MRI can check for problems of the bones and joints, such as arthritis, problems with the temporomandibular joint , bone marrow problems, bone tumors, cartilage problems, torn ligaments or tendons, or infection. MRI may also be used to tell if a bone is broken when X-ray results are not clear. MRI is done more commonly than other tests to check for some bone and joint problems.
• Spine. MRI can check the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc bulges, and spinal tumors.

The advantages of MRI in the GVM International

Our clinic offers its clients MRI service of all organs possible. MRI in our medical centre has a big amount of advantages:

• GVM International is equipped with diagnostic scanners of new generation of the world famous manufacturer SIEMENS that allows to perform examination with minimal impact on patient's body.
• We have the patient sedation service before MRI performance, so the examination can be passed by every patient, regardless of age and condition.
• Through the use of modern examination techniques, one can obtain images of internal organs in motion, and determine their relation with adjacent structures.
• Low radiation exposure of our MRI machines gives the opportunity to perform it with any regularity.
• Our clinic has extensive experienced and qualified personnel only.

MRI under sedation

Many patients require sedation for MRI because of the need to minimize movement during potentially long scanning times and the noisy and claustrophobic environment of the scanner. Typically, sedation is made in the following cases:

• If a person is claustrophobic;
• When examining children;
• Patients with hyperkinesias, which cause involuntary movements of limbs;
• Patients with severe pain in spine, and lying on back is just unbearable.

GVM International offers its patients the following MRI types:

• Abdominal MRI
• Brain MRI
• Cervical MRI
• Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI)
• Joint MRI
• Pelvic MRI
• Spine MRI

Contraindications to MRI

The magnetic field created by the MRI machine may interfere with the functioning of electrical devices including heart pacemakers and neurostimulators. Persons with implanted electrical devices must not enter the scanner room. During the examination, there is also a risk of temperature elevation in the adjacent tissues in patients with implanted metal parts, including hip replacements, vascular clips or foreign bodies.

Strict contraindications:

• Implanted electric and electronic devices are a strict contraindication to the magnetic resonance imaging, and in particular:
• heart pacemakers (especially older types)
• insulin pumps
• implanted hearing aids
• neurostimulators
• intracranial metal clips
• metallic bodies in the eye

Relative contraindications:

Metal hip replacements, sutures or foreign bodies in other sites are relative contraindications to the MRI. The first trimester of pregnancy is also a relative contraindication against the examination. The radiologist makes the final decision as to whether to proceed with the examination. In case of any doubts, please contact the Manager of the MRI Laboratory via telephone.

Preparation and MRI procedure performance.

As a rule, MRI procedure does not require special preparation. The exception is contrast MRI. Contrast MRI of the abdomen can be performed in fasting state only or 2 hours after a meal.

The MRI machine looks like a long narrow tube that has both ends open. You lie down on a movable table that slides into the opening of the tube. A technologist monitors you from another room. You can talk with the person by microphone.

The MRI machine creates a strong magnetic field around you, and radio waves are directed at your body. The procedure is painless. You don't feel the magnetic field or radio waves, and there are no moving parts around you.

An MRI can last anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour.