MRI Abdomen Scan-What You Need To Know?

By
July 22, 2023

Has your doctor advised an MRI abdomen scan for your health issues and you are not aware of the procedure of abdominal MRI? Let us delve into Why is MRI of Abdomen, how is an MRI of the abdomen performed, how do I prepare for an MRI abdomen scan, how much the abdomen MRI costs, what  is the  procedure, and what is the result of  abdominal MRI? 

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) abdomen scan is one of the best and most commonly used diagnostic methodologies for your abdomen-related issues. This painless and non-invasive procedure of abdomen imaging produces pictures of the inside of the abdomen utilizing radio waves and strong magnets.

What Does An Abdominal MRI Scan Show?

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of the abdominal is an imaging procedure that produces high-resolution images of the organs present inside the abdominal cavity. This helps in diagnosing the problems related to organs such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, large and small intestines, and spleen. This scanning procedure clearly depicts the blood vessels, lymph nodes, abnormal growths, etc, and makes it easy for the doctor to diagnose the problems.

Why Is An MRI Abdominal Scan Used? 

MRI abdominal scans are advised for a variety of reasons and especially when other imaging procedures show the result normal but still, doctors suspect that there is something happening wrong inside your abdominal area. 

Some conditions can’t be diagnosed with physical examinations and other imaging procedures, in those conditions, doctors usually count on an MRI abdomen scan.

The scanning procedure of MRI abdominal scan helps in various conditions such as:

  • Renal vein thrombosis 
  • Swelling of the kidney 
  • Inflammation of the kidney 
  • Obstruction of the vena cava or renal arteries
  • Pancreatic cancer 
  • Staging of various kinds of cancer such as bladder cancer, prostate cancer 
  • Lesions detection
  • Distinguishing the lesions from cancer  
  • Damage of tissue and its extent 
  • Abnormal mass growth in the gallbladder 
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Enlarged liver
  • Enlarged spleen 
  • Swollen gallbladder 
  • Bile duct issues

What Is The Procedure For MRI Abdomen Scan?

  • If your doctor has advised you MRI abdomen scan with contrast, then the technologist gives you the contrast dye through the IV line.
  • Technologists may ask you to lie straight and still on the examination table for the scanning procedure and set your position properly so that the pictures of a specific area can be captured properly. 
  • Once the position is set the technologist slides the table inside the MRI scanner to start the scanning process.
  • Once you enter the MRI machine, the scanning process begins.
  • During the scanning procedure, you may hear loud sounds and the technologist gives you headphones to avoid the loud noise.
  • Once the pictures of the abdomen area get clicked then the technologist slides the table out of the machine.

What Is The Preparation For Abdomen MRI Scan?

    • Avoid food and liquid for at least 4 hours prior to the procedure.
    • You can continue taking your medication until advised by your doctor to stop it. 
    • Upon your arrival, you will be asked to change your clothes into a hospital gown.
    • Remove all kinds of metallic objects and metallic accessories from your body such as hairpins, watches, jewelry, piercings, eyeglasses, dentures, etc.
    • If you have implants in your body such as pacemakers, clips, artificial joints, fixed dentures, etc, inform your doctor.
  • Inform your doctor if you have conditions such as claustrophobia, pregnancy, allergy, etc. 

How Much Time Does MRI Abdomen Scan Take?

The procedure of an MRI Abdomen scan without contrast takes 15 minutes to 30 minutes to completion and when the contrast dye is involved in the procedure, then it may take longer because the absorption of the contrast media takes a lot of time. 

What Is The Cost Of An MRI Abdomen Scan?

The cost of an Abdomen MRI scan without contrast dye typically starts at INR 14000 and on the other hand, the cost of an MRI abdomen scan with contrast is between INR 16000 to INR 18000. 

Conclusion

MRI Abdomen scan (Magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging procedure that is performed to diagnose a variety of problems and abnormalities associated with the abdominal organs. This scanning procedure is often advised when he or she suspects that there is a problem in your adnominal area that is not diagnosed with the help of physical examination as well as other imaging procedures.  This diagnostic way helps in preparing the best treatment plan to get rid of the problems completely as well as prevent the complications associated with abdominal issues.