Table of Contents
How long do MRIs of the spine take?
The test usually takes 30 to 60 minutes but can take as long as 2 hours.
Can an MRI tell if a lesion is cancerous?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool in finding soft-tissue tumors, detecting cancer and staging, and planning and monitoring treatment. An MRI can also determine if there are metastases, meaning it can tell whether or not cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Why would an MRI take longer than expected?
The number of images. If many images are needed for a detailed analysis, your MRI will take longer than a scan taking fewer images. The part of your body getting scanned. In general, the larger the area of your body that needs to be scanned, the longer the MRI will take.
How long does an MRI of the lumbar and thoracic spine take?
The length of a spine MRI is typically 15-25 minutes without a contrast injection. The total length of time is 30-35 minutes if a contrast injection is needed. You will be asked to hold still as MRI scans are sensitive to motion and any motion may obscure information the Radiologist uses to make a formal report.
Does your whole body go in for a spine MRI?
An MRI can be performed on any part of your body. A lumbar MRI specifically examines the lumbar section of your spine — the region where back problems commonly originate.
What do lesions on your spine mean?
Recap. The causes of spinal lesions include trauma, infections, tumors (benign or malignant), and inflammatory diseases affecting the spine. They can also be caused by autoimmune, congenital, degenerative, or vascular disorders affecting the spine.
How do you tell if a lesion is benign or malignant?
A benign tumor has distinct, smooth, regular borders. A malignant tumor has irregular borders and grows faster than a benign tumor. A malignant tumor can also spread to other parts of your body. A benign tumor can become quite large, but it will not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of your body.
Can an MRI take 2 hours?
MRI scans usually take between 45 and 60 minutes, but can sometimes take up to 2 hours. After the test, you may be asked to wait while the pictures are checked to make sure that they are clear and show all of the body part. If not, more pictures may be needed.
Does your head go in for a lumbar spine MRI?
For a cervical spine (neck), you will enter the MRI scanner head-first. For a lumbar spine, you will enter the scanner feet-first, and depending upon how tall you are, your head may be out of or near the entrance of the magnet.
Do you always get a follow up appointment after an MRI?
Ideally, when your doctor orders an MRI, they should tell you how long it will take to obtain results. You will typically go to a follow-up appointment to review not only your results, but also the treatment options relevant to the MRI findings.