Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Of The Abdomen: What Affects The Test

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What Affects the Test

Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include:

• Pregnancy. An MRI test usually is not done during pregnancy. In some cases, an MRI could be safely done late in your pregnancy if your doctor wants to check your belly or your baby for problems.
• Medical devices that use electronics, such as a pacemaker or medicine infusion pump. The MRI magnet may cause problems with these devices.
• Medical devices that contain metal, which can make some of the detailed MRI pictures blurry. This may prevent your doctor from seeing the organ that is being looked at. For example, an intrauterine device (IUD) that contains metal may prevent your doctor from seeing the uterus clearly.
• Inability to remain still during the test.
• Obesity. A person who is very overweight may not fit into standard MRI machines.

Many modern medical devices that do not use electronics, such as heart valves, stents, or clips, can be safely placed in most MRI machines. But some newer MRI machines have stronger magnets. The safety of MRI scans with these stronger MRI magnets for people with medical devices is not completely known.

Last updated:	April 10, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer