Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Abdomen

Abdominal MRI

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful 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.
• If you are not able 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.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: March 11, 2009
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
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