Before the test, tell your health care provider if you have:

• Brain aneurysm clips
• Certain types of artificial heart valves
• Heart defibrillator or pacemaker
• Inner ear (cochlear) implants
• Kidney disease or dialysis (you may not be able to receive contrast)
• Recently placed artificial joints
• Certain types of vascular stents
• Worked with sheet metal in the past (you may need tests to check for metal pieces in your eyes)

Because the MRI contains strong magnets, metal objects are not allowed into the room with the MRI scanner:

• Pens, pocketknives, and eyeglasses may fly across the room.
• Items such as jewelry, watches, credit cards, and hearing aids can be damaged.
• Pins, hairpins, metal zippers, and similar metallic items can distort the images.
• Removable dental work should be taken out just before the scan.

An MRI exam causes no pain. If you have difficulty lying still or are very nervous, you may be given a medicine to relax you. Too much movement can blur MRI images and cause errors.

The table may be hard or cold, but you can request a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and humming noises when turned on. You can wear ear plugs to help reduce the noise.

An intercom in the room allows you to speak to someone at any time. Some MRIs have televisions and special headphones that you can use to help the time pass.

There is no recovery time, unless you were given a medicine to relax. After an MRI scan, you can resume your normal diet, activity, and medications.

MRI provides detailed pictures of the brain and nerve tissues. It also provides clear pictures of parts of the brain that are difficult to see clearly on CT scans.

A brain MRI can be used to diagnose and monitor many diseases and disorders that affect the brain, including:

• Birth defect of the brain
• Bleeding in the brain (subarachnoid or intracranial hemorrhage)
• Brain infection
• Brain tumors
• Hormonal disorders (such as acromegaly, galactorrhea, and Cushing syndrome)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke

An MRI scan of the head can also determine the cause of:

• Muscle weakness or numbness and tingling
• Changes in thinking or behavior
• Hearing loss
• Headaches when certain other symptoms or signs are present
• Speaking difficulties
• Vision problems

A special type of MRI (called MRA, or magnetic resonance angiography) may be done to look at blood vessels in the brain. For more information see: MRA

Images

Head MRI

Lobes of the brain

Brain

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Head MRI Results

Review Date: 11/21/2010
Reviewed By: Ken Levin, MD, private practice specializing in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Allentown, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)