Head MRI

A head MRI is done in the hospital or a radiology center. You lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. Some MRI exams require a special dye, called contrast material. The dye is usually given during the test through a vein ( IV ) in your hand or forearm. The dye helps the radiologist see…

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. Tell your health care provider if you are afraid of close spaces (have claustrophobia). You may receive medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious. Or your provider may suggest an open MRI, in which the machine is not as close to…

If you need dye, you will feel the needle pinch in your arm when the dye is injected into the vein. An MRI exam causes no pain. If you have difficulty lying still or are very nervous, you may be given a medicine to relax. Too much movement can blur the images and cause errors. The table may be hard or cold, but you…

An MRI provides detailed pictures of the brain and nerve tissues. A brain MRI can be used to diagnose and monitor many diseases and disorders that affect the brain, including: Birth defect Bleeding ( subarachnoid , subdural or epidural bleed , or bleeding in the brain tissue itself) Aneurysms Infection, such as brain…

Abnormal results may be due to: Abnormal blood vessels in the brain ( arteriovenous malformations of the head ) Tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain ( acoustic neuroma ) Bleeding in or around the brain Brain infection Brain tissue swelling Brain tumors Damage to the brain from an injury Fluid…

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 this substance rarely occur. However, gadolinium can be harmful to people with kidney problems who are on…

MRI is safe during pregnancy. In many cases MRI may be more sensitive than CT scan to problems in the brain such as small masses. CT is usually better at looking for small areas of bleeding. Tests that may be done instead of an MRI of the head include: Head CT scan Positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain…

Barras CD, Bhattacharya JJ. Current status of imaging of the brain and anatomical features. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 53. Kalnins AU, Prost RW, Kim TA. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance…