Chest MRI

The test is done in the following way: You may be asked to wear a hospital gown or clothing without metal fasteners (such as sweatpants and a t-shirt). Certain types of metal can cause blurry images or be dangerous to have on in the scanner room. You lie on a narrow table, which slides into the large tunnel-shaped…

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. Tell your provider if you are claustrophobic (afraid of closed spaces). You may be given a medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious. Your provider may suggest an "open" MRI, in which the machine is not as close to your body.…

An MRI exam causes no pain. If you have trouble lying still or are very nervous, you may be given medicine to relax. Too much movement can blur MRI images and cause errors when the doctor looks at the images. The table may be hard or cold, but you can ask for a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and…

A chest MRI provides detailed pictures of tissues within the chest area. In general, it is not as good at looking at the lungs as a CT chest scan , but it can be better for other tissues. A chest MRI may be done to: Provide an alternative to angiography , or avoid repeated exposure to radiation Clarify findings from…

A normal result means your chest area appears normal.

An abnormal chest MRI may be due to: A tear in the wall , an abnormal widening or ballooning , or narrowing of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta) Other abnormal changes of the major blood vessels in the lungs or chest Buildup of blood or fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) or the lungs…

MRI uses no radiation. To date, no side effects from the magnetic fields and radio waves have been reported. The most common type of contrast (dye) used is gadolinium. It is very safe. Allergic reactions to the substance rarely occur. However, gadolinium can be harmful to people with kidney problems who need dialysis.…

Currently, MRI is not considered a valuable tool for spotting or monitoring slight changes in lung tissue. The lungs contain mostly air and are hard to image. CT scan tends to be better for monitoring these changes. Disadvantages of MRI include: High cost Long length of the scan Sensitivity to movement

Ackman JB. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging: technique and approach to diagnosis. In: Shephard J-AO, ed. T horacic Imaging: The Requisites . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3. Jokerst CE, Gotway MB. Thoracic radiology: noninvasive diagnostic imaging. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds.…