If you are searching for How to prepare for brain MRI with contrast You will need to wear a hospital gown for the examination. Normally, no eating or drinking restrictions exist prior to an MRI with contrast.
If your examination requires oral contrast, do not eat or drink anything four hours before your exam. We will give you instructions about withholding food and or liquids prior to your exam if needed.
What Is A Brain MRI?
A brain MRI or magnetic resonance imaging scan, also known as a head MRI, is a painless procedure that produces very clear images of the structures inside your head – mainly your brain.
What Is A Brain MRI With Contrast?
Some brain MRI exams may use an injection of contrast material. The most common contrast agent used is gadolinium, a rare earth metal. When this agent is inside the body, it changes the magnetic qualities of nearby water molecules, thereby enhancing image quality and increasing sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic images.
How Is A Brain MRI Performed?
MRI works on the simple concept that an electric current passing through coiled wires generates a temporary magnetic field in your body, in this case, your head. A transmitter/receiver within the machine sends and receives radio waves. Using these signals, the computer will produce digital images of structures inside your head, including your brain.
How Do I Prepare For A Brain MRI?
Instructions regarding eating or drinking before a brain MRI test may vary according to your reason for having the MRI. Eat and take your medications as you normally would unless your healthcare provider advises you not to.
The strong magnets and radio wave signals used in the MRI scanner can cause heating or possible movement of some metal objects in your head and/or body, which can result in health and safety issues. This can also make some implanted electronic medical devices malfunction.
What Can An MRI Of The Brain Show?
An MRI of the brain also reveals brain lesions. A brain lesion is a dark or light spot, which does not have the appearance of other tissues of the brain. Brain lesions can be present due to multiple sclerosis or because of an infection or tumor. In general, your doctor will be able to assess blood flow and the health of tissues in the following structures of the brain using a brain MRI.
Brainstem: This is the middle of the brain. This part is concerned with eye and mouth movement, conveyance of sensory messages, hunger, consciousness, cardiac functions, and involuntary muscle movements.
Cerebellum: The posterior part of the brain coordinates the voluntary movements of muscles, and maintains posture and balance.
How Does a Head MRI Work?
An MRI Scans takes pictures of your brain through the use of powerful magnets, radio waves, and a computer. When your body is placed into an MRI scanner it enters a strong magnetic field that aligns your hydrogen protons.
This does not create chemical changes in the tissues of your body. As the protons realign to their original position, they give out energy. This energy is captured by the MRI machine to generate pictures. Radio waves send a signal to a computer which processes MRI images.
Conclusion
Brain MRI is regarded as the gold standard for a critical evaluation of the structure of brain tissues, blood flow, and lesions or tumors. How to prepare for brain MRI with contrast The procedure is painless and safe for most individuals, provided proper safety screenings for metallic implants are completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What do you not do before a brain MRI with contrast?
Prior to a brain MRI with contrast, one should not bring any type of metal into the room while being scanned, move during the actual scan, or neglect to follow specific instructions by the doctor.
Q. Can I drive home after a brain MRI with contrast?
You can probably drive home after a brain MRI with contrast, but only if you didn’t get a sedative.
Q. How does a brain MRI with contrast take?
30 to 60 minutes
Q. What if I accidentally drink water before an MRI?
If you have accidentally drunk water before the MRI, you need to make this known to the medical staff or your doctor as soon as possible.
Q. Should I wash my hair before a brain MRI?
Yes, you should take a shower before your brain MRI, but do not use any hair products, such as hairspray, gel, or wax.
