Using a strong magnetic field and radio waves, the MRI machine looks in detail at specific parts of the body, including soft tissue, bone, fat, muscles and internal organs. The imaging it produces is very detailed, which can help your radiologist make an accurate diagnosis. MRI is considered to be very safe. It doesn’t use x-ray and is painless.
 

What to expect on the day of your scan?
When you arrive, please check in with reception. We’ll make sure your details are correct and give you two forms to complete. You will be given a gown to change into and asked to remove most of your clothing, including glasses, jewellery, watch, hearing aids and hairpins. You’ll lie on a comfortable table, where we’ll position you correctly for your scan. Sometimes you might also have an antenna (often referred to as a coil) positioned on your body, which shows the machine where to focus.

Once you’re all set, the MIT will move into another room – you can talk to them at any time over the intercom. You’ll then slowly slide into the scanner. It might feel a little daunting at first, but remember that MRI is safe, and we’ll be on hand to make the experience as pleasant as possible. We can play your favourite music in the scanner, and fans keep the air fresh and breezy. There’s also a button you can push to stop the whole thing – you’re in full control.

During the test, the MIT will take a number of images from all different angles, so it’s important to stay as still as possible – this will help make sure your images come out clear, so our radiologists can properly interpret them. As the machine takes images, you’ll hear loud knocking noises – this is totally normal and hearing protection will be provided to you.  Depending on your scan, you may be asked to hold your breath. You may also be injected with a dye, called a contrast medium, which makes scans easier to read. This dye has been used in medicine for many years; it’s very safe and you won’t have any after-effects from it.

The scan time will vary depending on the type of examination required, but as a rule it will take around 30 minutes.