Why Are My Varicose Veins Getting Worse?
It’s summer — shorts and bathing suit weather. Do you hesitate to wear either because of your unsightly varicose veins? Learn why varicose veins can worsen over time and what you can do about them.
How Long Will My MRI Really Take?
Are you scheduled for an MRI? You probably have lots of questions, one being how long the test will take. Many MRIs take between 30-60 minutes; some may be as short as 15 minutes, while others can take twice as long.
Our board-certified radiologists with REDI Diagnostics Corp in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, prepare and lead you through your MRI. Your results are interpreted promptly, and the information is sent to your doctor right away.
Reasons for time differences in MRI procedures
The duration of an MRI can vary widely. Here are some of the reasons:
The size and complexity of the site to be examined
The length of your exam depends in part on the size of the area to be examined. Your abdominal area is large and contains several organs, some of which are obscured by others, as well as your intestines and other soft tissue. So, abdominal MRIs can take longer than an MRI of your forearm.
The number of images and amount of detail needed
The more images we need to take, the longer your exam will normally last. Your doctor may need a number of detailed images rather than just a few.
Contrast dye
Sometimes, we need to inject contrast dye through an IV to get the images we need. Your technician takes images prior to inserting the dye and more images during or after the dye is injected. This process adds time to your MRI.
Sedation
If you’re extremely claustrophobic, or if your young child needs an MRI, we may need to perform an MRI with sedation. Using sedation adds 15-30 minutes to the total time of the test.
Following are some examples of time differences among types of MRIs.
Specialized MRIs such as cardiac, breast, and abdominal
Advanced MRIs diagnose or evaluate a specific condition, such as breast cancer or heart disease. They provide more detailed images than a regular MRI and often take longer.
A cardiac MRI can take 30-90 minutes and possibly up to 2 hours depending on factors such as your age, health, heart rate, whether contrast dye is used, how many images we need, and how detailed those images need to be.
A cardiac MRI shows the structure of your heart, assesses how well your heart is functioning, and identifies blockages, inflammation, and more.
Likewise, if your breast MRI requires contrast dye, the procedure may take up to 90 minutes. Abdominal MRIs can be complex, as noted above. An abdominal MRI normally ranges between 30-90 minutes but could last up to 2 hours.
Brain, knee, hip, and shoulder MRIs
Brain, knee, hip, and shoulder MRIs normally take 30-60 minutes. If you have a knee, hip, or shoulder MRI, your technician places supports around your joint to ensure a clear image. Likewise, during a brain MRI, you’ll wear a headpiece similar to a helmet.
These special braces help send and receive radio waves that produce clearer images as they target your joint or brain.
For your special imaging needs, call REDI Diagnostics Corp or book an appointment online today.
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