MedlinePlus: MRI Scans

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Illustration of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the abdomen

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- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Tests
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- Services and providers for MRI Scans in the U.S.
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MRI Scans

Also called: Magnetic resonance imaging, NMR, Nuclear magnetic resonance

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside your body. Health care professionals use MRI scans to diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn ligaments to tumors. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain and spinal cord.

During the scan, you lie on a table that slides inside a tunnel-shaped machine. Doing the scan can take a long time, and you must stay still. The scan is painless. The MRI machine makes a lot of noise. The technician may offer you earplugs.

Before you get a scan, tell your doctor if you

Are pregnant
Have pieces of metal in your body. You might have metal in your body if you have a shrapnel or bullet injury or if you are a welder
Have electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker

Start Here

MRI(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
MRI: Viewing Your Brain and Other Soft Tissues(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Latest News	Specific Conditions Related Issues	Tutorials Games
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Research Journal Articles	Medical Encyclopedia Dictionaries/Glossaries Directories Organizations	Children

Overviews
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging(International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine)
- Radiology in Motion: Magnetic Resonance Imaging(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - Requires Flash Player
Latest News
- 3-D MRI Helps Detect Patients at High Risk for Stroke(09/16/2008, HealthDay)
- MRI Detects Soft Tissue Damage Affecting Kids' Hearing(09/16/2008, HealthDay)
- MRIs Don't Improve Breast Cancer Care, Outcome(09/07/2008, HealthDay)
- More News on MRI Scans
Specific Conditions
- Cardiac MRI(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Cardiac MRI (MRI of the Heart, Great Vessels and Adjacent Structures)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- Chest MRI(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Functional MR Imaging (fMRI): Brain(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MR Angiography (MRA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Body (Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Chest(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Musculoskeletal System(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Prostate(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- MRI of the Spine(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
Related Issues
- Important Questions to Ask about the Quality of Your Imaging Examination(American College of Radiology)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- Questions and Answers on Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research)
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Tutorials
- MRI(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
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Games
- Play the MRI Game(Nobel Foundation) - Requires Flash Player
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Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Magnetic Resonance Imaging(National Institutes of Health)
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Research
- Neurological Imaging(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Medical Encyclopedia
- MRI Scans
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- RadiologyInfo: Glossary of Terms(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
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Directories
- American College of Radiology Accredited Facility Search(American College of Radiology)
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Organizations
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health
- RadiologyInfo(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
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Children
- Keeping Kids Still during Exams(American Society of Radiologic Technologists)
  Also available in Spanish
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