What is abdominal MRI?
It is a type of test that allows to visualize the structure of the organs and intra-abdominal structures.
What does it consist of?
The patient must remain still, lying on his back, and hold his breath for a few seconds when he is inside the MRI gantry.
Occasionally, the radiologist may consider it necessary to administer intravenous contrast to obtain a better definition of an area of special interest.
It lasts between 30-45 minutes and after the test the patient can return to normal life, unless he/she receives specific indications from the radiologist.
Why is it performed?
Its main objective is to observe the content and structure of the tissue of the solid abdominal viscera to determine if the patient has any type of malformation, inflammation, cyst or tumor.
Specifically, it allows to observe the liver, gallbladder, bile duct, adrenal glands, pancreas, spleen and kidneys.
When is it useful?
The physician may request abdominal MRI for those cases in which there may be a lesion of a small size and difficult to observe through other medical tests such as an X-ray or ultrasound.
They are also intended for those cases in which it is requested to assess the state of a particular organ in particular.
Preparation
This test does not require any specific preparation other than fasting between 2 and 6 hours before the MRI.
In addition, it is forbidden to wear earrings, piercings and any other type of body accessory.
Patient requirements
Although it is true that it has many advantages over other conventional tests, not all patients can undergo abdominal MRI.
Specifically, this test cannot be performed on people who have pacemakers or internal stimulation devices.
Neither can those who have implants, prostheses or artificial valves, since an evaluation by the physician will be necessary beforehand to decide whether or not they can undergo this test.