No special preparation is needed for the exam. Eat normally and take any medications that you usually take.

If you are having a brain MRI please do not wear any makeup as it may interfere with the exam.

If you are having an exam with contrast, please do not eat or drink 2 hours before your exam.

If you have any other question please call your medical imaging center. Search for them here

Preliminary results will be sent promptly to your physician and a detailed written report of the procedure, findings, and results will follow within several days. Your physician will then call you to discuss the results. Urgent results will be telephoned immediately to your doctor.

Yes, your doctor must provide a referral (prescription) in order for you to receive an examination. In addition, some insurance carriers or HMO’s require a precertification. Please discuss this with your doctor and your insurance company or HMO prior to your test.

We recommend that patients wait for 24 hours after receiving the Gadolinium injection, before resuming breast feeding. Patients may wish to pump breast milk prior to the exam, and store it for use during this one day period. You may wish to discuss this further with your doctor, or the radiologist.

Both types of scanners are state of the art utilizing the latest in technology. The differences between the two scanners typically revolve around the length of time you will be in the magnet. The High Field MRI can acquire images between 20-45 minutes and the Open MRI will take between 30-60 minutes. This difference is related to the strength of the magnets. The designs of the two magnets are aimed at reducing claustrophobia and anxiety.

Almost everyone can have an MRI with complete safety. The technologist will ask certain questions about your medical history to ensure the best possible results from your exam.

Patients with the following conditions are not candidates for MRI:

• Patients with cardiac pacemakers, neuro-stimulators or other electrical devices in their bodies.
• Patients with cerebral aneurysm clips are sometimes excluded.
• Pregnant women are generally not recommended for MRI scans. Be sure to inform your physician and the MRI Center staff if you are pregnant.

MRI is considered a safe test, and there is no ionizing radiation used. However, conclusive evidence showing how safe MRI is for pregnant women and the fetus, is not yet available. MRI is generally not performed during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy (first trimester).

Generally, we do not perform MRI on pregnant women, unless there is a strong medical indication. Prior to the test, you may want to discuss this with your obstetrician, and the radiologist. Depending on the condition, other tests, including ultrasound, may be available to diagnose a medical condition.

MRI will not affect the fillings. However, occasionally, the metal within the fillings will distort the images, if the scan is of the facial area.

Post-cardiac surgery patients and patients with the following medical devices can be safely examined with MRI:

* Surgical clips or sutures
* Artificial joints
* Staples
* Cardiac valve replacements
* Disconnected medication pumps
* Vena cava filters (after 6 weeks for certain types)
* Brain shunt tubes for hydrocephalus
* Metal stents

Some conditions may make a MRI examination inadvisable. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

* Heart pacemaker
* Cerebral aneurysm clip (metal clip on a blood vessel in the brain)
* Pregnancy
* Implanted insulin pump (for treatment of diabetes), narcotics pump (for pain medication), or implanted nerve stimulators ("TENS") for back pain
* Metal in the eye or eye socket
* Cochlear (ear) implant for hearing impairment
* Implanted spine stabilization rods
* Severe lung disease (such as tracheomalacia or bronchopulmonary dysplasia)
* Gastroesophageal reflux
* Weight of more than 300 pounds
* Inability to lie on back for 30 to 60 minutes
* Claustrophobia (fear of closed or narrow spaces).