Place Your Advertisement Here. All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project.
 
Sun, 5/20/2012

Sign up for our Newsletter!




Place Your Advertisement Here

Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier.

TAKE CONTROL TODAY

What It's Like To Get An MRI

Stacy Zaferes and Julia Morrill

Introduced in the 1980s, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses a strong magnet instead of x-rays to take pictures of the brain. It is one of the best and most precise mechanisms for examining the brain, so it is extremely common for doctors to use MRI for diagnosis in epilepsy. It allows them to look at nerve tissue, the flow of blood and spinal fluid, and any tumors or other localized changes or injuries.

We spent a day with Dr. Manzar Ashtari and Dr. Elizabeth Lustrin at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center so that we could go step-by-step through the procedure with you.


When you arrive, you will meet with a technician, who will explain the test. Here, the technician is showing the apparatus that is used to keep the head still for brain MRI. The technician will also ask whether you are wearing any metal or have any metal in your body (such as a pacemaker, plate, or clips). Because the machine uses a very strong magnet to create the images, metallic items can be dangerous or can interfere with the scan. Avoid wearing zippers, jewelry, or hearing aids when you go for an MRI scan.
The technician brings you to the self-contained room where the MRI machine is located, and helps you lie down on the table. To make you comfortable, you may be given a blanket and padding to place under your knees.
The machine will make some loud sounds while it adjusts and takes the pictures, so you will be given earplugs similar to these. Many centers now offer music, or even movies to watch.
The technician positions your head into the apparatus. It is extremely important to remain still during the test, as movement can blur the pictures.
When the machine (called a scanner) is turned on, you will be moved slowly into the tunnel. It is a confined space, so many people become frightened. The technician will give you an "emergency ball" with a button to push if you feel anxious. Then the technician will leave the room.
While the pictures of your brain are being taken, the technicians sit together outside the room and watch as the pictures are processed. The entire test lasts from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
The MRI scanner takes many pictures of your brain. The pictures are then reformatted in the computer, so the doctor can view many different thin "slices" of your brain from several different angles. This view (from the side) is called a sagittal view.
As each image comes up, the technicians look closely for any abnormalities. They can adjust the contrast or angle of the pictures according to what appears.
When you are finished, the pictures are packaged together for review, and you may go home.
Doctors will review and interpret your entire MRI study later. Typically, your doctor will receive the results within several days to a week.

Reviewed and revised March 2004 by Ruben Kuzniecky, MD, epilepsy.com Editorial Board.


Place Your Advertisement Here

Title Posted
Catamenial Epilepsy: Finally a solution!  
uberzwitter
Best pediatric neurologists in NC?  
Ashleygordon82
I think I just had a seizure??!!??  
msmith1997
epilepsy and psychic abilites  
lane
FREE counseling? (online, telephone, or in person)  
rosanna1980
PC Seizures, possibly nocturnal seizures, possible thyroid issues...  
pewter
Georgia Neurologist  
rosanna1980
Afraid to have VNS. Anyone had it?  
tcameron
Seizures linked to Anxiety?  
MoSchneb
Is this a very bad neurogist please??  
patrish
View all Forums

Title Page Views
my.epilepsy.com Updates  
epi_help
topamax and weight loss  
alexia mom
kepra  
brian mattingly
Possible cure for absence seizures  
pdl1
How exactly do aura's feel  
WendyBendy
Sexual Side Effects  
George R
MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s  
picnupthepcs
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised  
spiz
electrical shock in head?  
Maggie
Weight Gain and Depakote  
galinda
View all Forums

Title Posted
being unigue and being hypocrite  
futuer poet
Coming out?  
fashionlove45
RWAY40  
rway40
TOLD MY FRIENDS!!!  
fashionlove45
Feeling  
hross1110
Absence seizures and school  
mgarcia
Life with Epilepsy, and what I go through every day.  
trentonbest
Some people are just complete A-holes....  
arsen77
Train Yourself To Never Underestimate Yourself.  
Colliflower14
Has anyone else had rapid eye movement with seizures?  
krigg
View all Blogs

Title Page Views
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
Topomax... The Dreaded.........  
Dr Jason
Brain Zaps, tics & twitches  
JudiS
How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens?  
epl_controller
Feeling Sick  
JBJ1984
side effects of phenobarb.  
pksmom
Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds  
Butterflygrl
TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES  
cmscribbles
Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures"  
teft
newborn seizure  
Sunny_80
View all Blogs

Title Posted
The frustration of not knowing exaclty what is wrong...  
cag122
sharon watson  
shazzax6
My first seizure.  
Jayscott
My Epilepsy story  
Mar1tza
Cooper my 3 year old amazing son  
supercooper
I want to get better  
EsmeraldaAguilar
Seizures under control  
panteradee
Dizziness with topiramate/Diamox  
girl4him
pregnancy and lamictal and mysoline  
ckonstas
Cole  
MommaofMia3
View all Stories