An MRI head scan is a painless exam that will take pictures of your brain and the surrounding structures inside your head using a strong magnetic field and radio waves. The exam typically involves you lying on a flat, moveable table that will slide you into a tube-shaped magnet. While the scan is running, you will hear some loud knocking or thumping noises. This is the scanner taking pictures. You will be given some sort of ear plugs or headphones. You will need to lie still through the scan so the pictures are not blurry.
What Is a Head MRI?
An MRI of the head is a non-invasive procedure which scans the head and converts the information into a series of images. Those images can be used as tests to determine the cause of certain symptoms.
An MRI scan or study is used to help diagnose a variety of conditions and to monitor a person’s response to treatment of an illness, injury, or other condition of the head. There is no pain associated with MRI.
How do I get ready for a head MRI?
The medical team will want to establish if you have any metal anywhere in your body, including:
- inner ear implants
- artificial joints
- defibrillator or pacemaker
- certain kinds of heart valves
- vascular stents
- brain aneurysm clips
The team will also want to confirm if you’d ever done work with sheet metal or had an injury with metal shrapnel. All of those items will affect your safety during the MRI. In the situation of implants and pacemakers, an MRI’s magnetic field could cause those items to not work correctly.
What is the process for a head MRI?
The table will slide into a large magnet, which looks like a tube. After the table slides into the machine, the technician will take a series of pictures of your brain, each taking a few minutes.
What to expect after a head MRI?
After the procedure, you can put your clothes on and leave the imaging center (if you were sedated for the exam, the staff may move you to a recovery room until you are awake – usually 1-2 hours after the sedative is given).
A radiologist will read your MRI scans and send the results to your doctor. If your head MRI was an emergency, your results will be quick. What happens next will depend on whether they found anything unusual and were able to confirm the cause of any abnormalities.
CONCLUSION
The ability to obtain accurate images from the MRI is following the preparatory information in the beginning and remaining still during the scan. The combination of all these factors will allow for meaningful measures of safe screening and monitoring options for doctors and patients alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do you prepare for a head MRI?
Do not wear jewelry and wear loose fitting and comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown of your own, if so, it will be provided for you.
Q. How long is the head MRI procedure?
“30 to 60 Minutes”
Q. What is the procedure for a head scan?
If you are scheduled for a head scan (CT or MRI scan), you will only need to lay on a table that pulls the head part of the body into a tunnel-shaped machine. Usually, you lay still, which might include holding your breath for only a short period.
Q. What not to do before an MRI?
Please refrain from wearing or having on you anything metallic, including jewelry, hearing aids, or certain clothing with metal. Some people will either need to fast or take their medications based on the MRI type and their health problems.
Q. Can MRI results be seen immediately?
The images must first be evaluated by a radiologist a doctor who specializes in reading medical imaging – which takes a few days to a week. The radiologist writes a report to the referring doctor and the referring doctor is able to convey that report to the patient.
