MRI test experience and results

CANCELLATION/RESCHEDULING - If you must cancel for any reason, this must be done at least 12 hours prior to your appointment. To cancel please call the phone number on the paperwork received from the MRI location. We cannot reschedule you after the third missed appointment.

Unsupervised children and support or service animals cannot be left unattended during the MRI exam. Staff are not permitted to watch over them. Please arrange for a family member, friend, or caretaker to come to your appointment and be with your child or support/service animal.

The day of your MRI

BE ON TIME: Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time to complete pre-scanning steps. If you are more than 30 minutes late for your scan, your appointment will be rescheduled. Please fill out the MRI questionnaire online prior to your appointment if at all possible to make your registration experience go as smoothly as possible.
Anti-anxiety medication: If your physician gave you anxiety medication for the MRI, you must have a driver and arrive 1 hour before the scheduled exam to complete paperwork before taking the medication. You will not be discharged to drive yourself home if you take this medication.
Please leave any personal belongings (jewelry, unnecessary glasses, etc.) at home to avoid misplacement.
Please bring documentation/ID cards for all medically implanted devices.
Bring all relevant non-Sentara radiology imaging and reports on CD. The report and disk must be brought with you on the day of your scan. Both are required for interpreting the exam. This includes all relevant CT imaging and reports.

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Right before the MRI

When you arrive, you will check in at registration. The technologist will escort you to the imaging room and go over your detailed medical history. You will have to complete a current MRI Safety questionnaire before your MRI.

Your technologist will talk with you about the procedure. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or clarify instructions as you’re preparing for the MRI.

Next steps:

You will be asked to change into Sentara-approved attire. You will also be asked to remove:

ALL personal/street clothes that you came in wearing
Your watch, jewelry and all other metal things
Insulin pumps and glucose sensors/monitors must be removed before entering the MRI room
Hearing aids
Dentures
Braces, permanent retainers, and dental fillings normally are not a problem (you may feel some vibration during the scan)

Starting an IV for contrast

If your MRI includes contrast, the technologist will start an IV line and obtain a small blood sample to check your kidney function before contrast injection. Note that not all MRIs include contrast.

During the MRI

The MRI machine looks like a long open tube on both ends. The body part being imaged determines the position you will be in. The area of interest must be in the center of the scanner. Most exams require an additional piece of equipment (or coil) on or around the body part.
A technologist will monitor you from another room.
The MRI machine creates a strong magnetic field around you, and radio waves are directed at your body.
The procedure is painless. You don't feel the magnetic field or radio waves.
During the MRI scan, the internal part of the magnet produces loud repetitive tapping, thumping and other noises. You will be given earplugs and/or headphones. Some locations can play music in the headphones, but not all locations have this option to listen to music.
You will be able to communicate with the MRI technologist. They will explain the communication process before beginning the exam.
MRI machines are very sensitive to any type of motion. Patient motion can lead to having to repeat scans. The technologist will tell you if/when you can move. Some exams will require breathing instructions.
Times vary for each test. The tech will inform patients of the length of the exam prior to starting.
During a functional MRI exam, you might be asked to perform a few small tasks — such as tapping your thumb against your fingers, rubbing a block of sandpaper or answering simple questions. This helps pinpoint the portions of your brain that control these actions.

After an MRI

If anti-anxiety medicines were used, you may be taken to a recovery area. Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and blood oxygen level will be monitored until you leave the hospital or clinic. If you received these medications, you must have a driver in order to be discharged.

If you are breastfeeding, speak to your technologist for instructions following the exam.

Post-procedure instructions will be given to you by your MRI tech.

Your results

When the scan is complete, it is sent to a board-certified radiologist for reading. The results can take up to five business days, but your ordering clinician will receive the report as soon as it is read.

Your test results will also appear in Sentara MyChart as soon as they are ready. We release most results to you immediately, so you may see them before your care provider does. Please give us time to review the results and follow up with you.