What happens during the MR examination?

Before the actual examination the radiologist assistant helps the patient to get into the required position on the examination table and subsequently the examination couch moves with him into the tunnel. Patients are given a button which they can push in case they are not feeling well. The staff leaves examination room and the proper examination procedure – the measuring itself - begins. In addition, the staff can listen and talk to the patient during the entire examination and watch him/her on the screen.
It is important that you lie without moving during the measurement; otherwise the images might be blurred. Young children are under anesthesia during the examination because clear and exact images are necessary for magnetic resonance; which cannot be done properly if the body moves during the examination.
You will hear quite a strong sound or a clack during the measurement, but you don’t have to worry about it. The reason is that individual gradient coils are being switched on and off, so it indicates that the device is currently working. If the examination allows it, the patient receives earphones to reduce annoying sounds.
An accompanying person can stay with the patient in a patient room under special circumstances. Of course, they must undergo the same procedures as the patient (no metal objects in or on the body).
It may be necessary to inject contrast agent to improve the quality of some images. In this case the examination is interrupted for a while; we get the patient out of MRI tube to inject small volume of contrast agent (gadolinium) - approximately 10 ml.

The radiologist assistant checks the quality of images after the measurement. If it’s necessary to complete some images (and thus to continue in MR examinations), the assistant usually performs it immediately. Depending on the number of images and scanning planes, the examination takes approximately 20 to 40 minutes.