Patients will be placed on a table. A plastic frame (coil) will be placed around the body part being scanned. This coil acts as a antenna which receives the released energy from the area that is being scanned.

This energy is then transferred to the computer which forms an image of the body part onto the computer screen. A loud tapping sound will be heard while the machine generates the images. It is important not to move at this time, otherwise the pictures will be of a poor quality resulting in the study possibly being repeated.

For the examination, several sets of pictures will be made in different anatomical planes Each set will appear different, but all combine to give an overall picture of the area being scanned.

Depending on what your physician orders, it may be necessary to give you a small injection. The injection is not an iodine based liquid therefore patients should experience no reaction. The (gadolinium) is injected into the vein which goes into the blood stream highlighting specific abnormal areas. It is very safe and is passed out of the body through the urine within a couple of hours of the study.