Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• It is important to arrive on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule your appointment as we have MRI appointments 24 hours a day.
• Bring a reusable bag for your personal belongings during the exam.
• Avoid wearing makeup, as some makeup contains metal which can interact with the MRI machine.
• If you're very uncomfortable in small spaces or claustrophobic, talk to your doctor before your MRI appointment. You may be able to take a sedative before the exam. If you do so, you will need someone to take you home.
• You must be able to lie flat and hold still for at least 30 minutes during the exam because movement can blur the images. While we will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible during your exam, please tell your referring doctor if you have any issues holding still for long periods of time.
• If you require a Hoyer lift to get from a wheelchair to a bed, or if you require more than one person to assist you when getting on and off a bed, please let us know ahead of your appointment.
• In some cases, you need to be injected with an MRI contrast dye before your exam. Contrast dye helps enhance the appearance of certain tissues or blood vessels. While generally safe, contrast dyes have a small risk of allergic reaction. If you have a known allergy to MRI contrast dye or have any issues with your kidneys, please let your referring doctor know before coming for your exam.
• Except for with arthrograms to examine joints, MRI contrast is injected into a vein in your arm. If health care workers have had difficulties finding your veins for injections in the past, please let us know ahead of your appointment.
• Please refer to your appointment letter for any additional preparation instructions. If you are not properly prepared, your appointment may be rescheduled.
• If you wish to have a doctor other than your referring doctor copied on the results report, please let the receptionist know before your test.

• The length of your appointment will depend on what kind of MRI you’re having. On average, an MRI appointment takes approximately one hour to two hours. This includes about 30 minutes to fill out a questionnaire and speak with the technologist. The MRI can take between 30 minutes and 90 minutes.
• We do our best to stay on time. Unfortunately, your appointment may be delayed by unforeseen circumstances, such as emergency patients who require an MRI for urgent medical reasons. We recommend that you come prepared for delays.
• You must remove all clothing and jewelry before your exam. You will be given a hospital gown to put on. Because of the strong magnetic field, any metal objects brought near the machine can be moved with enough force to cause injury. Also, the radio waves can cause some metals to heat up and cause burns inside the scanner. This includes jewelry, clothing with metal fibers (such as some yoga pants), and even some makeup. 
• The MRI machine will make loud noises during your exam. You will be given earplugs and headphones to help protect your hearing.

A report will be sent to your doctor(s) within 10 days.

A breast MRI examines your breast tissue. You will lie on your stomach on a slightly raised platform that sits on top of the MRI table. Your breasts will hang freely between the platform and the table. Your arms will be positioned by your sides throughout the exam. You can eat and drink as you normally would before a breast MRI. Talk to your referring doctor ahead of time if you take any medications.

The exam will take about 30 minutes.

Musculoskeletal MRIs examine your joints, soft tissues and bones. For most musculoskeletal exams you will lie on your back with your arms by your sides. However, for elbow, forearm and wrist exams you may need to lie on your side or stomach with your arm above your head. Talk to your referring doctor if you think it will be difficult to hold this position during the exam. If you are having an arthrogram, please see your appointment letter for more information.

You can eat and drink as you normally would before a musculoskeletal MRI. Talk to your referring doctor ahead of time if you take any medications.

The exam can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.

Abdominal MRIs examine your digestive system organs (such as the stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, small and large intestines or bowels, and others), soft tissues and blood flow in your abdomen. You will lie on your back with your arms by your sides during the exam.

For small bowel MRIs you will need to lie on your stomach with your arms above your head. If you cannot lie on your stomach or have an ostomy, you will lie on your back. If you are pregnant you will lie on your side during the exam. You will need to drink about 1.5 litres of oral contrast over 30 minutes just before the imaging part of your exam. Consult your appointment letter for more information.

You cannot eat or drink for four hours before your abdominal MRI. You may drink enough water to take any necessary medications.

The exam can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Neurological MRIs examine your brain, spine, face, neck or central nervous system. You will lie on your back with your arms by your sides during the exam. For neurological MRIs, you will need to wear a device that looks like a hockey mask over your head and face. You are able to see out of holes in the mask, and there is a mirror attached to the MRI machine so you can see out towards your feet. We can also cover your eyes with a facecloth if you prefer however, the facecloth must be from the hospital's supply.

If your exam is for the eyes or optic nerves, we will need to lightly tape some gauze over your eyes to keep them closed during the exam in order to minimize movement.

You can eat and drink as you normally would before a musculoskeletal MRI. Talk to your referring doctor ahead of time if you take any medications.

The exam can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.