MRI

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of your organs and structures inside your body.

Tips & Links

• An MRI may show problems such as bleeding, tumours, infection, blockage, or injury in the brain, organs, blood vessels, or joints that cannot be seen with other imaging methods. Learn more about MRI’s at Healthlink BC.
• For an MRI test, the area of the body being studied is placed inside a special machine that has a strong magnet. In some cases, an injected dye (contrast material) may be used during the MRI to show pictures of organs or structures more clearly.
• Tell the technician if you have had any allergic reactions to dyes before and ensure it is on your electronic health record (EHR) and in your health profile.
• Be aware that the MRI scanner can cause anxiety in some people – the noise produced is loud and the space is small. You can ask for calming medication ahead of time and use relaxation and breathing exercises.
• Review the list of questions about any tests or treatments from Healthlink BC.
• You can locate and review your MRI results on Health Gateway BC.

Tools – Handouts & Videos