Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Of The Spine: 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.
• Medical devices that use electronics, such as a pacemaker or medication infusion pump. The MRI magnet may cause problems with these devices, and that may keep you from having an MRI.
• Medical devices that have metal in them. The metal might make some of the detailed MRI pictures blurry. This may prevent your doctor from seeing the organ that is being looked at. For example, any metal in your spine may prevent your doctor from seeing it 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 in people with medical devices is not known.

Last updated:	June 22, 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, Pat Truman, MATC