Duration of an MRT examination | Evaluation of the liver by MRI

Duration of an MRT examination

The duration varies greatly according to the organ section to be examined. In principle, however, one can say that an MRI examination usually takes longer than a CT examination or an X-ray. If, for example, a spinal column is to be examined more closely in an MRI machine, patients must expect a duration of up to 30 minutes.

The radiologist monitors the image quality during the scan.If there are inaccuracies or blurring in the image section, certain image sequences can be repeated accordingly, which takes time to extend the overall diagnosis. It is therefore difficult to give an exact time stamp. The very frequently performed MRI examinations of the shoulder, for example, usually do not take quite as long, whereas the imaging of the abdominal cavity can take up to 30 minutes.

If a native image is taken first (i.e. the examination is performed without contrast medium) and then contrast medium is injected through the vein, the total time of the MRI examination is also delayed. For the MRI examination of the liver, if all sections are to be displayed with and without contrast medium, the total time should also be expected to be about 15 to 30 minutes. If the patient is claustrophobic, it should be considered to give a low-dose sedative (e.g. Tavor).

An MRI examination is one of the more expensive examination instruments in medicine. The reason for this is the high cost of development and acquisition as well as the high maintenance and repair costs. An MRI examination is, in contrast to an X-ray or CT examination, harmless, but the cost, length and necessity should be taken into account when determining the indication.

The costs for an MRI of the head and neck region are about 370 EUR. If the administration of contrast medium is also necessary, the costs increase to 445 EUR. Examination of the spine with contrast medium would cost 430 EUR and examination of the breast organs without contrast medium would cost 360 EUR with contrast medium 440 EUR.

Examination of the shoulder region and MRI of the cervical spine is the most expensive examination. Without contrast medium costs of 517 EUR are due with contrast medium costs of almost 600 EUR. As a rule, the costs are covered by the statutory health insurance. In cases of doubt, an application for reimbursement must be submitted to the statutory health insurance company before an examination.