A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the leg is a noninvasive method to create detailed pictures of the leg, including the ankle, foot, and surrounding tissues.
A leg MRI also creates pictures of the knee. However, the knee is discussed in a separate article. See also: MRI of the knee.
Unlike x-raysand computed tomographic (CT) scans, which use radiation, MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The MRI scanner contains the magnet. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is about 10 thousand times greater than the earth's.
The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms in the body to line up in a certain way (similar to how the needle on a compass moves when you hold it near a magnet). When radio waves are sent toward the lined-up hydrogen atoms, they bounce back, and a computer records the signal. Different types of tissues send back different signals.
Single MRI images are called slices. The images can be stored on a computer or printed on film. One exam produces dozens or sometimes hundreds of images.
Alternative NamesMRI - lower extremity; Magnetic resonance imaging - leg; Magnetic resonance imaging - lower extremity; MRI - ankle; Magnetic resonance imaging - ankle; MRI - femur; MRI - leg
How the test is performedYou may be asked to wear a hospital gown or clothing without metal fasteners (such as sweatpants and a t-shirt). Certain types of metal can cause inaccurate images.
You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into the middle of the MRI machine. If you fear confined spaces (have claustrophobia), tell your doctor before the exam.
Small devices, called coils, are placed around the leg. These devices help send and receive the radio waves, and improve the quality of the images.
Some exams require a special dye (contrast). The dye is usually given before the test through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. The dye helps the radiologist see certain areas more clearly.
During the MRI, the person who operates the machine will watch you from another room. Several sets of images are usually needed, each taking 2 - 15 minutes. Depending on the type of equipment, the exam may take 1 hour or longer.
How to prepare for the testYou may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 - 6 hours before the scan.
Before the test, tell the radiologist if you are currently receiving dialysis, as this may affect whether you can have IV contrast.
If you fear confined spaces (have claustrophobia), tell your doctor before the exam. You may be given a medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious, or your doctor may recommend an "open" MRI, in which the machine is not as close to the body.
The strong magnetic fields created during an MRI can interfere with certain implants, particularly pacemakers. Persons with cardiac pacemakers cannot have an MRI and should not enter an MRI area.
You may not be able to have an MRI if you have any of the following metallic objects in your body:
Tell your health care provider if you have one of these devices when scheduling the test, so the exact type of metal can be determined.
Before an MRI, sheet metal workers or any person that may have been exposed to small metal fragments should receive a skull x-ray to check for metal in the eyes.
Because the MRI contains a magnet, metal-containing objects such as pens, pocketknives, and eyeglasses may fly across the room. This can be dangerous, so they are not allowed into the scanner area.
Other metallic objects are also not allowed into the room:
An MRI of the leg causes no pain. Some people may become anxious inside the scanner. If you have difficulty lying still or are very anxious, you may be given a mild sedative. Excessive movement can blur MRI images and cause errors.
The table may be hard or cold, but you can request a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and humming noises when turned on. You can wear ear plugs to help reduce the noise.
An intercom in the room allows you to speak to the person operating the scanner at any time. Some MRIs have televisions and special headphones that you can use to help the time pass.
There is no recovery time, unless you need sedation. After an MRI scan, you can resume your normal diet, activity, and medications.
Why the test is performedThis test provides clear pictures of parts of the leg that are difficult to see clearly on CT scans.
Your doctor may order an MRI of the leg if you have:
Your doctor may also order a leg MRI to:
Results are considered normal if the leg structures being examined are normal in appearance.
What abnormal results meanResults depend on the nature of the problem. Different types of tissues send back different MRI signals. For example, healthy tissue sends back a slightly different signal than cancerous tissue.
Abnormal results may be due to:
Consult your health care provider with any questions and concerns.
What the risks areMRI contains no ionizing radiation. To date, there have been no documented significant side effects of the magnetic fields and radio waves used on the human body.
The most common type of contrast (dye) used is gadolinium. It is very safe. Allergic reactions to the substance rarely occur. The person operating the machine will monitor your heart rate and breathing.
MRI is usually not recommended for acute trauma situations, because tractionand life-support equipment cannot safely enter the scanner area and the exam can take quite a bit of time.
People have been harmed in MRI machines when they did not remove metal objects from their clothes or when metal objects were left in the room by others.
Special considerationsTests that may be done instead of an MRI include:
A CT scan may be preferred in emergency cases, since it is faster and usually available right in the emergency room.
ReferencesWilkinson ID, Paley MNJ. Magnetic resonance imaging: basic principles. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 5.
Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics - Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:chap 41.
Lyn E, Pallin D, Antosia RE. Knee and Lower Leg. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 54.
Ho K, Abu-Laban RB. Ankle and Foot. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 55.
Bearcroft PPW. Joint Disease. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2001:chap 50.
Grainger AJ, Davies M. Techniques and Imaging of Soft Tissues. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2001:chap 45.
Sanders, TG. Imaging Techniques. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2003:chap 16.
A leg MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan of the leg is a imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the leg, including the ankle, foot, and surrounding tissues.
A leg MRI also creates pictures of the knee. However, the knee is discussed in a separate article. See also: MRI of the knee
MRI does not use radiation. Single MRI images are called slices. The images can be stored on a computer or printed on film. One exam produces dozens or sometimes hundreds of images.
Alternative NamesMRI - lower extremity; Magnetic resonance imaging - leg; Magnetic resonance imaging - lower extremity; MRI - ankle; Magnetic resonance imaging - ankle; MRI - femur; MRI - leg
How the test is performedYou may be asked to wear a hospital gown or clothing without metal fasteners (such as sweatpants and a t-shirt). Certain types of metal can cause blurry images.
You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a tunnel-shaped scanner.
Some exams require a special dye (contrast). The dye is usually given before the test through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. Sometimes, the dye is given into a joint. The dye helps the radiologist see certain areas more clearly.
During the MRI, the person who operates the machine will watch you from another room. The test most often lasts 30-60 minutes, but may take longer.
How to prepare for the testYou may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 - 6 hours before the scan.
Tell your doctor if you are afraid of close spaces (have claustrophobia). You may be given a medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious, or your doctor may suggest an "open" MRI, in which the machine is not as close to the body.
Before the test, tell your health care provider if you have:
Because the MRI contains strong magnets, metal objects are not allowed into the room with the MRI scanner:
An MRI exam causes no pain. If you have difficulty lying still or are very nervous, you may be given a medicine to relax you. Too much movement can blur MRI images and cause errors.
The table may be hard or cold, but you can request a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and humming noises when turned on. You can wear ear plugs to help reduce the noise.
An intercom in the room allows you to speak to someone at any time. Some MRIs have televisions and special headphones that you can use to help the time pass.
There is no recovery time, unless you were given a medicine to relax. After an MRI scan, you can resume your normal diet, activity, and medications.
Why the test is performedThis test provides clear pictures of parts of the leg that are difficult to see clearly on CT scans.
Your doctor may order an MRI of the leg if you have:
A normal result means your leg appears normal.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results may be due to:
Consult your health care provider with any questions and concerns.
What the risks areMRI contains no radiation. To date, no side effects from the magnetic fields and radio waves have been reported.
The most common type of contrast (dye) used is gadolinium. It is very safe. Allergic reactions to the substance rarely occur. However, gadolinium can be harmful to patients with kidney problems who require dialysis. If you have kidney problems, please tell your health care provider before the test.
The strong magnetic fields created during an MRI can cause heart pacemakers and other implants to not work as well. It can also cause a piece of metal inside your body to move or shift.
Special considerationsTests that may be done instead of an MRI include:
A CT scan may be preferred in emergency cases, since it is faster and usually available right in the emergency room.
ReferencesWilkinson ID, Paley MNJ. Magnetic resonance imaging: basic principles. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 5.
DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 24.
Grainger RG, Thomsen HS, Morcos SK, Koh DM, Roditi G. Intravascular contrast media for radiology, CT, and MRI. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 2.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 02/19/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
he invented the x-ray which led to the MRI CT scan and everything else in medical imaging
Medical physics is the use of physics in medicine. One of the best examples of the application of physics to medicine is the use of magnetic resonance in an MRI scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. Sometimes a contrast solution is injected into the patient during the MRI scan to show certain structures more clearly.
Yes as long as it has no metal in it. If it has any metal then no, as an MRI is like a giant magnet.
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is a non-invasive brain imaging technique in which an individual lies in an MRI machine. The MRI machine has a magnetic field and a gradient coil which causes changes in the alignment of water molecules in the brain. The idea is that when a region is active it requires more oxygen, and thus seeing an increased amount of aligned molecules suggests that that particular region might be involved in a specific task. PET (positron emission tomography) is an invasive brain imaging technique which involves injecting an individual with radioactive glucose and measuring the amount of glucose in different brain regions. Similar to a region needing oxygen, a highly active region also needs glucose for its metabolic processes. If during a specific task a particular brain region were active, one would expect to see more signal from that brain region while being monitored by a PET scan.
A CT scan is about $300 to $6750, while a MRI scan is $400 to $12,000.
no it is not possible to have an MRI scan because the dfibrillator is dirupted by magnets and that is what an MRI is, a giant magnet.
A bone scan, or x-ray is simply a different type of scan than an MRI. No kind of scan is better than another, it simply depends what the scan is trying to ascertain.
A PET scan shows what level / stage (if any) the cancer is at. An MRI scan doesn't do this, the reader, looks for abnormalities on the scan which shows up everything in the body.
No. It is not a treatment it is a scan. An MRI is a Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI are used for imaging tissues.
MRI Scan and CAT Scan.
An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.An MRI can be a way of diagnosing a person with epilepsy, but does not have any effect on epilepsy. It is just used to scan the brain.
Mri of the body... Or a cat scan of the head
It depends on what the problem with the elbow is. If it is a bone related injury then the CT scan will show more detail but if the problem is with the muscles or ligaments, then the MRI Scan will be more useful.
MRIs == ==
500.00
no, you wear a hospital gown.