Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe, totally painless exam used to look at soft tissue inside your body to provide detailed diagnostic information for your physician. The MRI exam uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create soft tissue images of the body part being scanned. These images provide much more detailed information than plain X-ray films without the radiation exposure.
Our MRI unit is a state-of-the-art open extremity unit, which virtually eliminates the claustrophobia associated with traditional MRI units. With our unit, the only part of your body placed in the magnet is the body part actually being scanned. Our unit is designed specifically for extremity imaging - hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, feet, ankles & knees - and is one of the most comfortable and least confining MRI systems available. If you've had a previous MRI, you will appreciate the difference.
You can eat, drink and take regularly prescribed medication prior to your MRI exam. Please arrive about 15 minutes before your exam, dress comfortably and bring your favorite music CD to listen to. The MRI exam will take approximately 45-60 minutes. Your results for routine exams will generally be available within about a week, and urgent exams can often be read within 24 hours. Contra-indications to having an MRI include cardiac pacemaker, pregnancy and aneurysm clips.
Your Northwest Hand physician will go over the results of the MRI exam with you during your next scheduled appointment.
Edwin D. Vyhmeister MD, C. Hendrik Kirchhoff MD and Harold J. Kirkpatrick MD - Providing services in hand and wrist injury surgery, tennis elbow and shoulder therapy and tendinitis treatment to the areas of Everett and Seattle, Washington.
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