Preparation

Before the MRI examination, the patient should remove all metallic objects and clothing. Possible risk factors, such as clothing and jewelry that may not be worn during the examination, are usually explained in a questionnaire or by a physician or a physician assistant. For the storage of all objects and items of clothing there are rooms available where the (valuable) items can be kept safely. The attending physician must be informed about other (non-removable) metallic objects (e.g. implants, piercings, tattoos) before the examination. Depending on the implant, its size and localization, an MRI imaging may not be possible.

Procedure of the MRT

The MRI examination of the skull is usually comparable to other MRI examinations. However, to examine the head, it is placed in a coil (a kind of grid) to receive the radio waves required for imaging. In addition, the head is stabilized with pillows and special supports.

The patient is pushed head first into the MRI tube. During the examination, the head and upper body are inside the tube, while the legs are usually outside. During the imaging process, the patient should not move if possible in order to ensure high quality images.

The patient is usually given headphones (sometimes with music), as the examination is very loud (loud knocking). Depending on the problem, the administration of contrast medium may be necessary. In this case, after an initial imaging without contrast medium, there is a short pause in which the patient is administered the contrast medium. The MRI examination is then performed again.

Findings

Frequently, the images are already reviewed and analyzed by a radiologist during the examination. The findings can be communicated to the patient in a conversation after the examination. Often the patient is also given a CD with the recorded images. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to discuss the findings with the doctor who ordered the imaging (e.g. family doctor, orthopedist). In this case, the images with the report are usually sent to the referring physician within one day.