MRI Scans

What is an MRI scan?

An MRI scan can be used to provide excellent detail of the inside of the body. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It uses very strong magnets and powerful computers to create images. The scan relies on the water in your body which is actually very weakly magnetic. The scan is actually a series of different scans, each with the magnets ‘tuned’ to show different types of tissue, such as fat and muscle.

MRI scans show excellent 3D detail of tendons, muscles and all of the other soft tissues around the shoulder and elbow. They are especially good at picking up areas of inflammation which usually go hand-in-hand with pain.

How is an MRI scan performed?

Before entering the scanner, metallic objects must be removed and pockets emptied. You lie on a table that moves into the doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure lasts 20–30 minutes and you are asked to stay as still as possible. The machine produces banging, thumping and electrical sounds and sometimes you are offered music to listen to. When Mr. Davies was a young boy, he had an MRI scan and thought that the scanner was broken due to all of the noise! The experience can feel somewhat confined as the scanner comes close to your face. The scan itself is painless, and you can leave immediately afterwards. If distressed, you can contact the team in the next room via intercom.

Are MRI scans safe?

The simple answer is YES! The scan itself does not use any ionising radiation so there is no risk of cancer. However, not everyone can have an MRI scan. If you have a pacemaker, metal fragments in your eye, or some other metallic electrical implants such as a cochlear implant, you cannot have one. Your doctor and the scanning team will go through a detailed questionnaire to make sure it is safe for you.

How soon will I get the result?

Each scan creates between 30 and 100 separate images (sometimes more). A specialist radiologist examines them carefully for any abnormal areas, then provides a written report to your doctor. Reports are usually completed within a few days of your scan.