MRI Services

The following MRI scans are available at our Elizabethton office: 
MRA’s I Brain I Spine I Lower Extremity I Upper Extremity I Abdomen I Pelvis I Breast

What is an MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside your body. Health care professionals use MRI scans to diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn ligaments to tumors. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain and spinal cord. During the scan, you lie on a table that slides inside a tunnel-shaped machine. Doing the scan can take a long time, and you must stay still.

Before you get a scan: tell your doctor if you are pregnant, have pieces of metal in your body, have metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or a metal artificial joint.

MRI Prep
Patient Instructions:
 For any MRI exam with IV contrast, nothing to eat 4 hours prior but please hydrate up until appointment time.
– For MRCP ONLY, nothing to eat OR drink for 8 hours prior to scan, preferably after midnight.  If not prepped, we cannot complete the scan and will have to reschedule.

Estimated Test Duration:
30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on type ordered

Sedation:
We do NOT do full IV sedation at Medical Care. Oral sedation can be done if ordering provider writes prescription for patient. If so, the patient does have to have a drive. 

Ages:
Since full sedation is not offered, we do not do neonatal patients. MRIs are done on pediatric patients if the patient is mature enough to hold still for entire length of scan, not age specific. We can screen parent or legal guardian to accompany a child during scan to assist in the pediatric patient more comfortable. 

Implants: 
All Cardiac stents, lens implants, breast biopsy markers are MRI safe, immediately after implantation. If a patient has any other type of implant, they have to bring proper documentation, implant card, with them to MRI appointment to be further investigated. If no documentation is provided, then no MRI scan will be performed. We do NOT perform MRI’s on patients with pacemakers at our facility. 

If you have any questions regarding your upcoming appointment, call our Radiology department
at (423) 431-0315.