Medical Imaging: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - What To Expect

What will happen at my appointment?

When you arrive for an MRI, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. The technologist will complete a screening process to ensure there is no metal on or in your body to interact with the magnet in the MRI. 

During your MRI scan, you will lie on a padded exam table. The table will be raised and moved so that the part of your body being examined is inside the strong magnetic field of the MRI machine. The technologist will adjust the table if required, explain the steps of the procedure to you, and move to their control station to perform the test. 

An MRI exam requires you to lie very still during the test despite the noise of the MRI machine. When the exam is complete, the table will be lowered so you can safely transfer to the floor and you can change to your regular clothes.

Some MRI exams require an intravenous injection of contrast dye that makes blood vessels and other structures inside the body more visible on the scan images. If an injection of contrast dye is required for your test, this will be explained to you by the technologist. 

You will be asked to complete a patient information questionnaire and sign a consent form for the injection before the start of your test. After the test, the contrast dye will be eliminated naturally through your kidneys and bowel.