What it means
A scan in which the client lies still inside a large tube-shaped magnet while a computer builds detailed images, especially of soft tissue: the brain, spinal cord, joints and organs. It uses no x-rays. A scan takes longer than a CT, often 30 to 60 minutes, the machine is loud, and some scans use a contrast dye (gadolinium) given by IV.
For the nurse
Screen for any metal before the scan: pacemakers, implanted pumps or devices, metal clips, shrapnel, and some tattoos and patches. Remove jewelry, hearing aids and medicine patches with metal backing. Ask about fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia), which may need a sedative as ordered, and whether the client can lie flat and still.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | MRI |
|---|---|
| Spanish | resonancia magnética |
| Also written | MRI scan, MRI, MRI scans |
Related terms
ultrasound
An imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to make pictures of the inside of the body.
computed tomography
An imaging test that uses x-rays and a computer to make cross-section pictures of the inside of the body.
x-ray
A picture of the inside of the body made with a small dose of radiation; also called a radiograph.