MRI of Soft Tissues, Neck or Face
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe and painless procedure. MRI
uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the
organs and tissues within your body without the use of ionizing radiation.
Depending on what your medical provider is looking for, this test may
be ordered with or without IV contrast.
What Is Intravenous Contrast (IV) Media?
To improve the visibility of soft tissues, like organs, muscles, tendons
and blood vessels in many parts of the body, the technologist must inject
contrast media into a vein. Some people refer to this as “dye”
although it’s not like the dye you may use at home. The contrast
media used in MRI is a non-iodine, gadolinium-based contrast agent that
improves the diagnostic accuracy of an MRI scan. It leaves the body through
the kidney but will not change the color of your urine.
What to Bring
- Your medical provider order (your medical provider may have already sent
this to us)
- Personal ID
- Insurance Card
- If you have an MRI safe implant, please bring your implant card and any
remote device.
How to Prepare
- You should inform your medical provider if you have any allergies to contrast
materials.
- Unless your healthcare team or The MRI technologist tells you otherwise,
you may follow your regular routine and take medication as usual.
- You should inform your medical provider if you have claustrophobia and
need a form of sedation.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid clothing with zippers, buttons
or belts made of metal.
- Please leave valuable jewelry at home.
- If you suspect you might be pregnant, please inform the imaging technologist.
- If you have a history of kidney problems, you should inform the technologist.
- If you have had an adverse reaction during a prior MRI, you should inform
the technologist.
- If you have claustrophobia, you should inform the technologist.
- If you are wearing an on-body medication pump or any pain patches, you
should inform the technologist.
- If you have any internal implants, such as pain pump, pacemaker, defibrillator,
loop recorder, stimulator, etc., you should inform the technologist.
What to Expect
- This is a noninvasive exam.
- Please allow 25- 45 minutes from the time you check in to the completion
of the test.
- You may be asked to remove clothing and to wear a gown during your exam.
- You may be asked to remove jewelry, glasses, and any metal objects or clothing
that may interfere with the images.
- During the exam, you will be placed on a table and positioned inside the
center of a large tube-like scanner with openings at both ends. The machine
makes a significant amount of noise, so hearing protection will be provided.
The table moves forward into the scanner and out when the study has been
completed. The study is not painful.
- A head and neck coil resembling a football helmet will be placed over your
head and face in order to obtain images. An MRI coil helps us gather high-quality
images of a specific body part and is essential in generating images.
This will not touch you and does not hurt. There are openings and is not
completely enclosed.
- You will be given a squeeze ball to alert the MRI technologist, if needed,
during your MRI. If you have any questions or feel any discomfort during
the exam, you can squeeze the ball and the MRI technologist will address
any issue you may be encountering.
- If your medical provider ordered IV contrast, the technologist will start
an IV in a vein in your arm. The contrast will be injected through the
IV. You may feel a cool sensation going up arm.
- For a non-contrast exam, it should take about 25 minutes. For a contrast
exam, it should take about 45 minutes allowing time for the technologist
to start your IV.
Screening Forms for This Test
- Before scan, The MRI technologist will go over a series of questions and
have you sign a screening form for any metal or mechanical implants in
the body to ensure you have been cleared to go into the Magnet.
- Included in this form is a contrast acknowledgement section. If your exam
is ordered with contrast, the technologist will read you a statement and
will ask for your signature that confirms you agree to receiving the IV contrast.
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Call North Oaks Scheduling between 7 am and 5:30 pm.
Hammond: (985) 230-7777
Livingston: (225) 686-4899
If you are a provider and need to send an order, please send it via fax
to (985) 230-6781.