Radiology - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan

What is an MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It’s a special way of taking pictures of the inside of your body. It uses a big magnet and radio waves, but no radiation, to make clear pictures of your bones and soft tissues. This helps doctors find out what might be wrong and how to help you feel better.

Is an MRI safe?

Yes, MRI scans are very safe. There are no known risks or side effects. If you need more than one scan, it’s okay. But, if you think you might be pregnant, ring the number on your letter. There’s no proof that MRI is dangerous during pregnancy, but doctors will decide if it’s the best option for you.

Can I have an MRI?

Most people can have an MRI safely. Before your scan, you’ll answer some questions to make sure it’s okay for you. Some people with certain medical implants like these might need special planning or can’t have an MRI:

• Pacemakers
• Electronic device
• Clips in their brain
• Ear implant
• Injuries that left metal inside the body

If you have any of these, or have had any surgery in the last 6 weeks, please ring:
 
0161 206 5832 - Salford Royal Hospital/Salford Community Diagnostic Centre
01706 517254 - Rochdale Infirmary/Royal Oldham Hospital/ Oldham Community Diagnostic Centre
0161 778 3815 - Fairfield General Hospital

Bring any information you have about your implant or surgery to your appointment.

Before your MRI scan

You can eat and drink normally unless your letter says not to. Keep taking your usual medicine. If they are scanning your head or neck, don’t wear makeup. Remove all jewellery, piercings, and anything with metal. You must remove any health and fitness smart watches/rings before your scan. Don’t wear clothes with metal in them. Please don’t bring valuables with you.

Staff cannot look after your children whilst you have your scan, so please ask an adult to look after them.

If you need an interpreter, please ring the Interpretation service on 0161 627 8770 before your scan. We cannot allow friends or relatives to interpret for you.

If you have reduced mobility and need help getting on the scanner, please contact our booking centre:

0161 206 0093 for Salford Royal Hospital or 01706 906207 for Oldham, Rochdale or Fairfield.

Complete the safety questionnaire and bring this, along with any information you have about any implants inside your body, to your appointment.

What happens during the MRI scan?

When you arrive, you’ll meet someone who will show you to the MRI waiting area. A staff member will ask you questions about your health and safety before the scan starts. You’ll need to change into a hospital gown and take off anything metal, like glasses, hearing aids or watches.

The person doing your scan is called a ‘Radiographer’. The MRI machine looks like a big tunnel, open at both ends. You’ll lie on a bed that moves into the scanner, and depending on what part of your body is being checked, you might go in head-first or feet- first. We may put a piece of equipment that acts like an aerial over the part of your body being scanned. The scan can take between 10 and 60 minutes. You need to stay very still during the scan because moving can make the pictures blurry. We will try to make you comfy with pads and cushions.

MRI machines are very loud and make unusual noises. You will be given earplugs or headphones, so the noises are not as loud. The Radiographer can see you through a window, talk to you using an intercom, and you’ll have a button to press if you need help.

If you are nervous, a friend or family member may stay with you during your scan. They will need to answer questions on their health and safety and remove any metal to make sure it is safe for them.

You may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it. The Radiographer will tell you what and when you need to do. After the scan, a specialist will report your pictures and let your referrer know the result.

More information on some special scans is included at the end of the leaflet.

Giving consent

It’s your choice whether or not to have the scan, and you can change your mind at any time.

If you decide not to have the scan or are unsure, let the Radiographer know or call the number on your appointment letter. Keep in mind that not having the scan could delay finding out what’s wrong, which might slow down your treatment.

We want you to be part of all decisions about your care. If you choose to have the scan, we need to ask for your permission. This means you agree to have the scan and understand what it involves. This is called giving “verbal consent,” which might just mean the Radiographer checks you are booked for the right scan. You can ask the Radiographer any questions before, during, or after the scan.

Does the MRI hurt?

No, the scan doesn’t hurt. The hardest part is staying still. The bed you lie on may be a bit uncomfortable, but you can ask the staff if you need anything to make you feel better.

What if I’m scared of small spaces?

If you feel worried or claustrophobic (scared of small spaces), ring us before the scan or tell the staff looking after you. They can help you feel calm. If you need it, you might be able to take a mild medicine to help you relax but talk to the person that referred you before coming for the scan.

When do I get my results?

You won’t get your results right away. Your referrer will contact you after the scan to talk about what the pictures show.

Will I need an injection?

Sometimes, the Radiographer might need to give you an injection during the scan to help make the pictures clearer. The staff will ask for your permission and some questions to check it is safe for you to have it. A small tube called a cannula will be placed in a vein in your arm and will stay there during the scan.

You might get an injection of a liquid called ‘Gadolinium’. This helps doctors see more detail in the scan. Most people only feel a cool sensation in their arm when it goes in, which is normal.

There’s a small chance you may experience the following short-term side effects after having gadolinium:

• Itching
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) - extremely rare (approximately 1 in 10,000).

If you feel any of these, tell the radiographer right away. If you feel unwell after you’ve left the department, please contact the department for advice or seek medical advice from your GP. Contact your Accident and Emergency unit if symptoms are significant or worsening.

Sometimes tiny amounts of Gadolinium might stay in your body after the scan, but there’s no proof that this causes any harm.
 
There’s a small chance the liquid from the injection might leak under your skin (extravasation), but this usually isn’t serious and goes away in a few days. If this happens, we’ll tell you what to do.

Abdomen and pelvis scans only:

For some abdomen or pelvis scans, you might get an injection that helps relax your muscles, so the pictures come out clearer. This is called ‘hyoscine butylbromide’ or ‘Buscopan’.

Please tell the staff before the injection if you have Glaucoma, Megacolon, Tachycardia (a very fast heartbeat), problems passing wee (urinary retention), or Myasthenia Gravis.

You may experience the following short-term side effects after having Buscopan:

• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision (this should wear off within 30-60 minutes)
• Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
• Dizziness (this should wear off within 30-60 minutes). Please do not drive until your vision has returned to normal.

Buscopan can also cause urine retention (being unable to pass wee). This is very rare. Please seek urgent medical help if you are suddenly unable to pass urine (wee). This could be by contacting your GP, NHS 111 or A&E.

Rare but important side effects relating to your eyes: Some patients have a rare form of glaucoma (called narrow or closed- angle glaucoma). If you have this, Buscopan can sometimes cause high pressure within your eyes. This reaction is very rare and shows as a painful, red eye. However, if it does happen you must attend Accident and Emergency (A&E) urgently and tell them you have had this medication. This is to avoid long-term effects to your vision by treating the symptoms early. If left untreated there is a risk of vision loss.

Please note that most patients with glaucoma in the UK have open angle glaucoma. This means that most patients are not at risk of this reaction.

For scans of the small bowel only:

Please only follow these instructions if your letter states you are coming for MRI Small bowel

You must not eat for 6 hours before the scan. Please drink water/clear liquids and take your medicine as normal. If you
have diabetes and need advice on your medicine and diet, please speak to your diabetic nurse.

You will need to drink a special liquid called a laxative before the scan. You will be asked to come to the hospital an hour early to drink it. We want you to sip the drink slowly for 45 minutes and finish it all. This drink helps open up the folds in your bowel so the doctors can see everything clearly in the scan.

Please tell the staff before drinking it if you have:

• An allergy to ‘macrogol’ or ‘aspartame’
• A stoma/part of your bowel removed
• Gastric emptying disorders such as gastroparesis or gastric retention
• Phenylketonuria
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
• Been diagnosed with toxic megacolon in the last 6 weeks
• Ulcerative colitis
• Any active inflammatory bowel disease

The scan is performed after the drink and takes about 1 hour. You will be laid on your tummy for the scan. You should plan to be at the hospital for about 2 hours. You should expect to need to go to the toilet several times after the scan. You can eat as normal after the scan. Please drink plenty to rehydrate.

You may experience the following short-term side effects after having the laxative, which should go away quickly:

• Bloating
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea/vomiting
• Sore bottom
• Skin rash (rare due to an allergy)
• Loose stools (diarrhoea) lasting 1-2 days

For this scan you will also be given injections of Gadolinium and Buscopan. More information is given above.

For MRCP scans only:

You must not eat/drink for 4 hours before the scan. Please have sips of water/clear liquids if required to take your medicine as normal.

You may be asked to drink 2 glasses of pineapple juice before the scan. This can help the doctors look at your abdomen. Please let the staff know if you are allergic to pineapple before drinking it.

You can eat and drink as normal after the scan.

For Arthrogram scans only:

Before your MRI scan, a special liquid called ‘gadolinium’ is injected into your joint by a doctor using x-ray to guide them. You should expect to be in the hospital for about 1.5 hours. It is not painful, but you might feel a bit uncomfortable for a few hours.