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MRI of the Joints
Purpose of the Examination
In addition to ultrasonography, MRI is excellent for examining joints, bones and their surrounding soft tissues (i.e., tendons, ligaments, cartilage, internal coat of the joints, liquids, intervertebral discs), also for areas not shown well on an ultrasound and the part of bones not containing calcium (i.e., marrow, inflammations, tumors).
Required preparation
Generally, no special preparation is necessary prior to the procedure. Intravenous contrast material is sometimes given in rare cases only.
What does an examination entail?
The Patient is placed within the scanner in the supine position following which images are prepared in three planes and in various sequences.
The examination lasts about 34-35 min., is not painful.
The patient must remain completely motionless during the entire time in order for the images to be evaluated.
Contrast material may need to be administered in rare cases only.
A consent agreement signed by the Patient is required beforehand.
Contraindications
Claustrophobia (our equipment is open, thus, lessening the claustrophobic effect on our Patients), size and weight, metal implants that make imaging impossible or cause damage to the Patient (tooth fillings aside) and pacemakers.
Should a Patient be allergic to the contrast material, the examination will be done without it.
The patient will be given a written report of the results and the images on a CD.
