Magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as MRI, is an imaging technique that creates detailed images of your body's organs or tissues using a magnetic field and computer-generated radiofrequency waves. An MRI machine's magnetic field realigns the water molecules inside your body, while the radiofrequency waves cause these aligned molecules to produce faint signals that create MRI images. Doctors use MRIs to examine your body, organs, and skeletal systems to diagnose various problems. Los Angeles Diagnostics is a medical care provider offering affordable MRI screening across the county to help diagnose conditions in the abdomen and pelvis.
Understanding an MRI of the Abdomen and Pelvis
An MRI of the abdomen and pelvis is used in evaluating organs and tissues in the abdomen or pelvis.
Your healthcare provider might order an MRI of the abdomen if they wish to evaluate your liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, bowel, biliary tract, urinary tract, pancreas, bladder, reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, scrotum, testicles, penis, and prostate gland), blood vessels, and lymph nodes in the abdomen or pelvis.
These MRIs are critical in diagnosing conditions such as tumors in the abdomen or pelvis, liver diseases, pancreatic abnormalities, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel conditions, and abnormal and inflamed blood vessels.
Doctors recommend MRI of the abdomen or pelvis if you have symptoms such as abdominal or pelvic pain, jaundice, high fever, unexplained weight loss, blood in the urine, or you are a woman and experience heavy and painful periods.
An MRI will show your caregiver the possible cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. In addition to helping in diagnosing certain conditions, an MRI can help during a surgical procedure or in treatment planning. For example, if you are on cancer treatment, the doctor might order an MRI to see how well your body is responding to the current treatment plan.
An MRI does not use radiation to image your tissues. Instead, it uses a strong magnetic field to realign your body’s hydrogen atoms. As these atoms realign, they emit different amounts of energy depending on the body part. The MRI scanner will capture this energy and use it to create a picture.
Most MRI machines create the magnetic field by passing an electric current through wire coils inside the machine. The coils transmit and receive radio waves to the patient and provide signals that the machine can detect. Throughout the process, your body will not be in contact with the electric current from the MRI machine.
Preparing for an MRI of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Most people are unaware of what they should and should not do before an MRI. Should you eat? What is allowed in the room? Will your pacemaker affect the MRI machine?
Before you go in for an MRI, you must notify your doctor about any metal implants you have from previous surgeries or conditions. Some of the implants that might affect the MRI machine include artificial heart valves, plates, staples, stents, clips, pins, screws, and metal implants.
Even if these implants are not in your abdomen, they could still cause problems due to the strong magnetic field the MRI machine creates. If you have a pacemaker, your doctor might order another radiological exam, or, depending on the pacemaker model, your doctor might reprogram it to prevent its disruption during an MRI.
An MRI exam of your colon might require an enema or laxative to clear your colon before the procedure. You might also have to fast for four to six hours before the procedure.
Other preparation tips to keep in mind before your abdominal and pelvic MRI include:
- Wear comfortable clothing. You should avoid clothing with metallic elements, 100% cotton is the best choice. The MRI center might request you to change into a more comfortable and MRI-friendly gown.
- You must inform the technologist if you are pregnant. While MRI has not been proven to cause damage to the growing fetus, it is not recommended for women in their first trimester. If an MRI must be done in your first trimester, the MRI provider will discuss the risks and benefits with your obstetrician to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
- Bring someone with you if you will be sedated so they can drive you home safely.
- Do not bring these objects into the MRI room: credit cards, hearing aids, jewelry, watches, hairpins, penknives, guns, eyeglasses, and other metallic items. You should also remove any removable dental work before the scan.
- Talk to your doctor if you have a tattoo as some inks contain metal, which could interfere with the images.
On the day of the MRI, fill out the required questionnaire and forms. You should also include additional medical information such as any allergies you may have, any electronic implanted devices, and if you are nursing.
Your medical history is also important before the procedure. For example, if you have had surgery recently or suffered a kidney disease, you must inform the technologist before the MRI. People with kidney disease may require a specific contrast type that will not cause complications.
What to Expect During an MRI of the Pelvis and Abdomen
Even before you go for the MRI, you must schedule an appointment with the MRI provider. During this appointment, you should disclose any relevant information that might help the physician weigh the risks of having an MRI.
Being honest at this stage is critical as it can help the technologist determine the risks that might arise during the procedure and implement mitigating measures. For example, if you recently had surgery in the abdominal or pelvic tissues, the resulting images might appear distorted, and without the necessary background, these might be interpreted as abnormalities.
Before the procedure, a nurse or doctor will place an IV line in your arm if you need a contrast dye for the test. The nurse will provide you with a gown and request you leave all metallic materials that could affect the MRI machine before you get into the MRI room.
During the procedure, you will lie on your back on a movable exam table. You might be provided with a pillow for support and straps or bolsters to help you stay still during the procedure. The technologist might also place a coil on your abdomen to facilitate a better image.
An MRI machine looks like a large cylindrical tube. The sliding bench on which you lie will slide you into the MRI machine. The technologist in another room controls the bench’s movement in and out of the MRI machine.
Throughout the process, the technologist will communicate with you through a microphone. You can communicate your discomfort at any time during the procedure.
Once the machine starts running, it makes a loud whirring and thumping noise. Depending on the facility, you may receive an earplug, television, or headphones to help reduce the noise.
An MRI is a painless procedure; however, you might feel a tingling in your hands and should notify the technologist immediately if you experience any pain. You may be required to follow a certain breathing pattern to allow the machine to take good images of your tissues.
Depending on the tissues under evaluation, an abdominal and pelvic MRI can last up to 90 minutes. You can leave immediately after the procedure unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
If you had a sedative, you might have to wait until the effects wear off or have another person drive you home.
You will receive your MRI results within a few days or in a week or longer for comprehensive results. Your doctor will review and explain the results, and depending on the information on these images, your doctor might make a diagnosis or order more tests to get a more accurate diagnosis.
You should drink a lot of water within 24 hours after the procedure to eliminate the contrast dye from your body.
Benefits and Risks of an Abdominal and Pelvic MRI
Different imaging techniques exist for examining your abdomen and pelvis, and an MRI is one of them. Patients are often concerned about the benefits and risks the procedure exposes them to when their doctors require an MRI to facilitate the diagnosis.
Some of the benefits of an MRI of the abdomen and pelvis include:
- An MRI is non-invasive and does not expose you to radiation.
- An MRI is more accurate at imaging soft-tissue structures and more likely to characterize a disease, unlike other imaging options. Due to its accuracy in imaging soft tissues, an MRI is an important diagnostic tool in identifying focal lesions and tumors.
- An MRI is effective at diagnosing a wide variety of conditions including cancers, and bone abnormalities.
- An MRI can detect abnormalities that your bones might obscure when using other imaging techniques.
- An MRI allows your caregivers to examine the biliary system without needing a contrast injection.
- An MRI is a non-invasive alternative for imaging problems in the blood vessels.
Although an MRI comes with several benefits, it might also present some risks. Before we get into the risks, you should know that when your physician follows all the safety guidelines when conducting an MRI, the procedure carries almost no risk for the average patient.
The risks commonly associated with an MRI include:
- Sedation may be necessary for claustrophobic patients or children who must undergo a pelvic or abdominal MRI. With sedation comes the risk of using too much. MRI specialists avoid the risk of sedation by monitoring your signs constantly throughout the procedure. If the patient is a child, the MRI provider will work closely with a pediatrician anesthesiologist to keep your child safe.
- Since an MRI uses a magnetic field to image your tissues, it might cause the malfunctioning of implanted medical devices. These medical devices might distort the resulting images.
- For patients with kidney disease, the use of gadolinium contrast might cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. While this condition is rare, it might occur in patients with severe kidney disease. Physicians mitigate this risk by assessing your kidney function before administering a contrast injection. e
- Patients with claustrophobia might feel nervous or uncomfortable in the machine. Talk to your doctor before you go for an MRI. He or she may prescribe anti-anxiety medication or sedation to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
- You might experience an allergic reaction if contrast is used during the procedure.
If you are still concerned about the risks associated with an MRI, you should discuss your fears with your doctor before the procedure. Your doctor can help you understand what to expect, the benefits of the procedure, and the potential risks you might experience. In addition, he or she might offer the steps you could take to minimize your risks.
In addition to these risks, some patients are ineligible for MRI scans. Their ineligibility is usually a safety concern of the interaction between their body components and the magnetic field of the MRI scanner. Some of the factors that could prevent you from having an MRI include:
- You have an insulin pump inside your body. An insulin pump implanted inside your body might interfere with the MRI machine and cause complications. Therefore, your doctor will examine other imaging alternatives. Serious situations might call for the temporary removal of the insulin pump until the completion of the MRI.
- You have metal joints or limbs that are attached to your body for a lifetime.
- You have metal shrapnel or bullets lodged in your body (if you are a metalworker, you must inform your doctor, as you might have small metal fragments in your body, without being aware of their presence.)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Will the MRI hurt?
An MRI is a painless procedure if all safety guidelines are adhered to. For some patients, keeping still throughout the procedure might be uncomfortable, and you might need sedation to help with relaxation. You might experience some warmth in the area under examination, and you should notify the technologist if the warmth becomes excessive or uncomfortable.
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Is an MRI safe
An MRI is a safe procedure. Since it does not use ionizing radiation, it does not leave your body with any side effects or expose you to risks. However, the safety of the procedure depends on the safety precautions taken. For instance, a skilled radiologist must conduct the procedure, the doctor must scan you for potential metals that could interfere with the MRI machine and pose risks.
An MRI is unsafe when:
- You have metal implants or fragments in your body
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding (an MRI is generally not recommended for pregnant women in their first trimester or for breastfeeding mothers who should wait up to two days to allow the contrast material to clear from the body).
- You have tattoos (some inks have metal in them)
- You are allergic to contrast dyes
- You have severe kidney problems
- You are claustrophobic
- You cannot lie still
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How long will the procedure last?
An MRI of the abdomen and pelvis lasts between 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the detail required from the scan.
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Why do I need an X-Ray before an MRI?
Not all patients require an x-ray before their MRI test. The doctor typically orders an x-ray if they suspect the presence of a metal or metal fragment in your body. These metals can interfere with the MRI machine and, in other cases, cause fatalities. When these metals are in your eye, they could heat up and cause blindness.
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Are all MRIs Enclosed?
Traditional MRI machines are enclosed, but some facilities offer open MRI. The two work equally well, but the magnetic field in enclosed MRI machines is stronger. Open MRI machines are ideal for claustrophobic patients and those with larger body frames that would be an uncomfortable fit.
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Can I have an MRI when pregnant?
In general, an MRI is a safe procedure. However, not enough studies exist on the risks to which a developing fetus is exposed during the procedure. Doctors do not order an MRI for pregnant women, particularly those in their first trimester unless the benefits outweigh the risks.
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How much does an MRI cost?
An MRI can cost several hundred to thousands of dollars. A pelvic MRI could cost between $1000 and $5000 based on the complexity of the condition under investigation. Most insurance companies cover MRI procedures if these are medically necessary.
Apart from the complexity of the condition under investigation, administrative costs, the facility at which your MRI is done, and your location affect the cost of the MRI. Having an MRI at a standalone clinic specializing in offering MRIs is cheaper than at a hospital facility.
Even if you do not have health insurance coverage, you can save on your bill by shopping for different MRI clinics for price comparison and asking whether the clinics offer discounts.
Find an Affordable Los Angeles MRI Center Near Me
MRI scans are a valuable diagnostic tool in modern medicine. They can help doctors identify problems or abnormalities in the abdomen or pelvis and determine whether a treatment regime is working as expected. Los Angeles Diagnostics offers MRIs of the abdomen and pelvis at an affordable rate. You can schedule your appointment with our team at 323-486-7502.
