Preparing for Your MRI

Things to Avoid

An MRI uses a high magnetic field. Therefore, our staff will ask you if you have any metal implants in your body. (Some examples are pacemaker, brain clip, surgical clip or wire stitches, hearing aid, or intrauterine device (IUD)).

An MRI preparation form will outline a full list of such objects. (Please see “First Visit” for more information.) If you are unsure about the presence of metal, our staff may perform an x-ray to be certain.

Patients with vascular stents may have an MRI after the stents are in place for a couple of weeks.

Dental fillings usually are not affected by MRI, but may distort images of the face and neck. Please make our staff aware of their presence.

Patients will be asked to remove anything that might distort MRI images including hairpins, jewelry, eyeglasses or hearing aids. A complete list of items not allowed in the examination room will be provided, along with a locker for their safe storage. (Please see “First Visit” for more information.)

We ask that our female patients tell us if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.