Claustrophobic patients are often anxious about the MRI experience, usually triggered by the thought of lying in a long narrow tube. However, modern MRI’s have much shorter and wider cylinders than in years past, making the experience much more comfortable for claustrophobic patients. Sometimes, the patients head doesn’t even need to be inside the gantry, depending on the body part being imaged.

Some MRI’s are constructed with only a top and a bottom, leaving the sides open. These are referred to as open MRI’s. Because the sides are open, the actual image quality of open MRI’s is somewhat lower than a standard MRI.

At Neuro Imaging Winter Park, we have one of the shortest and widest MRI cylinders available in the world for MRI’s, ensuring the most positive experience possible. If you are still concerned about claustrophobia, our radiologist will also prescribe oral medication for onsite sedation. You don’t need a prescription from your referring doctor or need to take medication in advance of your appointment. Simply tell our office staff at the time your exam is scheduled and we will make the appropriate arrangements.

If you are scheduled for sedation, you must have a driver with you at the time of the appointment. A ridesharing service or taxi is not accepted as a driver.

MRI uses a magnetic field in combination with radio waves to create an image. There is no radiation associated with MRI.

CT uses a rotating beam of x-rays to produce very thin images of the body.

The MRI machine does make a low banging sound. However, ear plugs will be provided to each patient to help drown out the noise.

Patients may request a genre of music to play in the scan room during their scan.

Certain types of metal may be unsafe in an MRI machine. Please speak with our staff to determine your individual safety profile.

Yes. It is extremely important that patients not move during the scan. Any minor movement can make the images unreadable and will require repeating the scan. However, patients will only have to remain motionless for a period of 2 to 7 minutes at a time. Small breaks will be given during an MRI exam to allow patients to relax.

The decision to administer intravenous contrast is determined either by the referring doctor or the onsite radiologist.

There are two types of contrast: oral and intravenous. Oral contrast is a barium or gastrografin based drink that is given to most patients receiving an abdomen or pelvic CT. This allows the radiologist to differentiate the small and large bowel from other structures in the abdomen.

Intravenous contrast is used for both MRI and CT and is given to patients with certain diseases or suspected diseases.