Why did the Doctor ask me for Head MRI?

MRI of Head- Overview

MRI Head – Brain MRI scan or MRI scan of the head is the diagnostic scanning procedure to detect the injuries, abnormalities or other conditions in the brain or some brain related issues using strong magnetic fields.

Purpose of Brain MRI:

Brain MRI is performed to diagnose a number of symptoms that are directly or indirectly connected to the brain. It is employed to diagnose conditions which include,

1. 1. Seizure (epileptic shock)
2. 2. Developmental anomalies
3. 3. Brain infections
4. 4. Brain stroke
5. 5. Genetic abnormalities like multiple sclerosis
6. 6. Haemorrhage (trauma)
7. 7. ENT problems
8. 8. Defects of pituitary gland
9. 9. Aneurysm or other vascular abnormalities
10. 10. Blood clotting in veins (venous thrombosis)
11. 11. To check the cause of frequent headaches
12. 12. To detect the reason behind occurrence of seizures
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Brain MRI Scan Charges

 Drawbacks of Brain MRI

The MRI of the brain is a very useful tool to diagnose various brain related problems. However, due to some reasons there are various drawbacks of this technique:

1. 1. Difficulty in lying still: During the MRI procedure patients are asked to be still during the procedure for clear images but the person undergoing the procedure might be anxious and find it difficult to lay down still for long periods.
2. 2. Weight and size limitations: Extra-large sized patients cannot fit into the MRI machine and MRI scanners have some particular weight limit.
3. 3. Irregular heartbeat fades the result: The picture quality is greatly affected due to disruption of signals from the irregular heartbeat.
4. 4. Contrast material is not safe for the fetus: The contrast material used in MRI contains gadolinium. The element present in contrast material is dangerous for the health of the unborn baby as the kidneys are not well developed to excrete out the material entering the body within time and effectively.
5. 5. Implants or metallic objects: Patients with metallic objects or implants inside the body are not allowed to undergo MRI scan. Because the basis of MRI scan procedure largely depends on strong magnets which release high power magnetic fields and the implants can become projectile of these fields. Hence, metallic substances inside the body can pose serious problems.
6. 6. MRI is not an option for severely injured people: Whether the patient can undergo an MRI or not depends on the decision of the patient’s doctor. The life supporting systems and traction equipment can hinder the scanning process.
7. 7. MRIs do not distinguish between fluid deposition due to edema and cancer tissues.
8. 8. MRI is more expensive and time taking than other diagnostic tests like CT scan and ultrasound
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Advantages of brain MRI scan with contrast

Contrast MRI tends to provide better clarity in the images as it helps in distinguishing target soft tissues from the surrounding tissues. It can even show the very minute details of brain injury that the plain MRI can not show.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an MRI of the brain show?

Brain MRI is performed to diagnose a number of symptoms that are directly or indirectly connected to the brain. It is employed to diagnose conditions which include,

1. 1. Seizure (epileptic shock)
2. 2. Developmental anomalies
3. 3. Brain infections
4. 4. Brain stroke
5. 5. Genetic abnormalities like multiple sclerosis
6. 6. Haemorrhage (trauma)
7. 7. ENT problems
8. 8. Defects of pituitary gland
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Is MRI of the brain painful?

No, the procedure of undergoing contrast MRI is not painful. But it can be risky in sme cases.

What are the drawbacks of brain MRI?

MRI diagnostic techniques pose some serious limitations as well, these include:

1. 1. Difficulty in lying still for long in MRI machine
2. 2. Weight and size limitations in MRI scanner
3. 3. Irregular heartbeat fades the picture quality 
4. 4. Contrast material is not safe for the fetus
5. 5. Implants or metallic objects can become a projectile for magnetic waves.
6. 6. MRI is not an option for severely injured people
7. 7. o edema and cancer tissues.
8. 8. MRI is more expensive and time taking than other diagnostic tests like CT scan and ultrasound
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What is the average time taken during the MRI scan of the brain?

Time taken by the whole procedure of MRI largely depends on the size of the body region to be examined. For a complete brain scan, it  usually takes more than an hour for a patient to lay in an MRI machine.

Can I open my eyes during the MRI scan?

You must close your eyes while you are undergoing your MRI scan. The reason behind closing your eyes are as follows:

1. 1. Magnetic fields can pose discomfort to some people or vertigo, and if you close your eyes this sensation can be minimised.
2. 2. Eyeglasses can become the projectile of the strong magnetic fields and can hit any one present, so you can simply close your eyes.
3. 3. According to the medical experts, it is advised not to open eyes during the MRI scan, as it can lead to turbulence or movement in the scanning devices which will result in blurred pictures. Opening eyes during the scan can also lead to very serious issues like optic nerve damage.
4. 4. Patients undergoing eye scans are administered with a probe, if that person opens their eyes during the MRI scan then the pictures will be inaccurate, as the light source disrupts the signals from the pupil.
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