What is an MRI scan?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is a painless, diagnostic test that allows radiologists (doctors who specialize in the use of imaging) to see inside some areas of the body which cannot be evaluated using other modalities. It is safe, painless and comfortable procedure that emits no radiation. Instead MRI combines computer technology with magnetism and radio waves to create multiple real time pictures of inside your body. After these images are processed, they are interpreted by Radiologists to detect a disease or injury.
Benefits:
- MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to radiation.
- MRI images of the brain and other cranial structures are clearer and more detailed than with other imaging methods.
- MRI is the most sensitive exam for brain tumours.
What to do to prepare for your scan?
- Food and drink - You may eat or drink anything you like before a typical MRI test. If you are having your abdomen / pelvis scanned (including MRCP), it may be necessary for you to fast for 4 hours before the test. If the patient requires anesthesia, please refer to the guidelines below
- Medications - It is important for you to keep to your regular medication schedule unless advised by your doctor.
- Safety - MRI scanners do not use x-rays. Instead, they use a very strong magnet and a radio frequency. It is important to tell the MRI technologist if there is a chance you could be pregnant. There is no evidence that MRI is unsafe for a developing fetus, (however, it should be used with discretion).
- Surgical implants - Patients with any kind of metallic implant anywhere in the body should not have an MRI unless their physician or radiologist is fully aware of the device and has approved the MRI procedure. Patients who have a pacemaker, cochlear implant or infusion pumps should not undergo an MRI.
- When to arrive - You should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This allows time for you to complete any necessary paperwork, change your clothes for your scan and discuss about your medical history with our doctors before we start your scan. We suggest that you call the hospital on 022 - 24447567 before starting from home so that we can inform you in case there is a delay. Please bring all your relevant previous investigations and doctors notes.
What happens during the scan?
- Clothing / Metallic objects - For all MRI scans, you most likely will change into a hospital gown. Our changing area is private and there is a secure locker for your clothes. It is best, however, if you leave valuable items at home. If you are wearing anything metallic, such as jewellery, dentures, glasses or hearing aids, that might interfere with the MRI scan, we will ask you to remove them. You should not have your credit / debit cards in your pockets during the scan because the MRI magnet can affect the magnetic strip on the card. Patients who are undergoing a brain scan should not wear make-up as some brands contain metal.
- Scanning - Before the scan, your detailed history will be taken by the Radiologist. Your technologist will then bring you into the MRI scan room where you will lie down on the patient table. The technologist positions the part of your body to be scanned in the middle of the large cylindrical magnet. The scanner does not touch you, nor do you feel anything. Because the scanner does make a loud knocking noise when it takes the images, the technologist will give you cotton plugs and /or headphones to damper the sound. The technologist leaves the room, but is in full view and communication with you through the observation window and microphone in the adjoining room. You will be given a "rubber squeeze" which can be pressed if you are uncomfortable or want immediate attention. It raises an alarm so that the scanner can be stopped and the MRI technologist can come and assist you. It is important for you to lie very still and, at some points, you may be asked to briefly hold your breath as the image is taken.
- Length of scan - Each MRI scan is individualized and tailored to each patient's needs. So, if you've had a MRI scan before, don't be concerned if this one is longer or shorter. After your preliminary scans, if you require a contrast medium, the technologist will bring you out of the magnet and the Nurse / Radiologist will inject the contrast into the IV placed in your arm. The technologist then returns you to your original position in the magnet. Since we need the images before and after the contrast injection to exactly coincide, it is important that you do not move while the contrast medium is being administered. After all the images are taken, you will be brought out of the scanner room. You may then get dressed and leave.
- Contrast medium- Contrast medium,(sometimes called dyes) highlight your organs and blood vessels and help the radiologist to see them better. At a prior time, you may have already been exposed to a contrast medium if you have had a kidney scan, angiogram or a CT scan. The contrast material used is safe and does not contain iodine. The incidence of reaction is extremely rare. In fact, most patients will feel nothing at all during or after the injection. However, if you suffer from kidney problems, please inform our staff.
What happens after the scan?
You have no restrictions after having a MRI scan and can go about your normal activities.
- Results / Reports - The radiologist will read the scans within 24 working hours, In urgent situations report can be made available. Your reports along with films and a CD containing all images can be picked up from the MRI reception between 6 - 8 pm the next working day.
Discharge
The patient will be observed for 1-2 hours in the recovery area and discharged thereafter.
The MRI scan lasts for about 40-60 minutes during which the patient is required to lie still. It is understandable that most children will not be able to do so. In this situation necessary medication shall be administered to the child by a qualified anaesthetist to calm the child down. During the procedure the child shall be monitored continuously by the anaesthetist.
MRI Suites at Hinduja Hospital:
The MRI Suites at Hinduja Hospital are the first ever digital broadband MRI machine. The MRI Suites are the best and most preferred by both, the patients and the doctors.
Benefits to the patients
- Relaxing Ambience: Generally it takes a long time for a patient for MRI scan and this becomes boring and irritating, but the patient has to undergo all this trouble. With the new MRI Suites at Hinduja Hospital, the ambience makes the difference. The picture theme, the music and the lighting of the entire suites makes the MRI experience very pleasant for the patients.
- Quick Scanning: The total time taken for scanning is less.
- Reduced Claustrophobia: The wide bore of the MRI Suites makes the patient experience less daunting and less claustrophobic.
Appointments for MRI can be taken at 022- 39 81 81 81 / 022- 67 66 81 81
Consultant Doctors:
- Dr. Nirad Mehta
- Dr. Santosh Gupta
- Dr. Smruti Mulani
- Dr. Shailendra Maheshwari
- Dr. Zena Patel
Working Hours:
Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
What is a Mammogram?
A mammogram finds breast cancer years before you can even feel it, if diagnosed in time breast cancer is curable! It is a safe, low dose X–ray picture of the breast, where two X-ray pictures are taken of each breast.
Why Mammography?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women today due to changing lifestyle, but the good news is that if detected early, it has more than 90% cure rate. Mammography is the most reliable method for detecting early and small breast cancer. Routine screening can decrease the mortality due to breast cancer by 30 – 35%. It can also increase the chances of breast conservation surgery. If detected early breast cancer I curable.
Who should undergo Mammography?
How is mammography performed?
At our mammography section, mammography is performed by a specially trained Radiology technologist. The breast is compressed between t5wo plates attached to a specially designed x-ray. This may cause some discomfort but it is a relatively painless procedure. Compression only lasts a few seconds and the entire procedure of mammography takes about 20 minutes. The technologist will guide you throughout the procedure and will answer all your queries.
What are the preparations necessary for mammogram?
- Mammography should ideally be done 3 to 5 days after the menstrual period.
- On the day of the examination, women should not wear perfume, talcum powder or deodorants in the under arm or the breast area.
- It is advisable to wear loose clothing.
The unique features of our mammography section:
- Ours is a dedicated state of the art technology GE-DMR stereotix machine with stereotactic biopsy attachment.
- Low dose of radiation, high resolution with superior image quality, AEC (automatic exposure control) and optimized.
Appointments:
For mammography can be taken at 022- 39 81 81 81 / 022- 67 66 81 81.
Consultant Doctor:
- Dr. Raju Wadhwani
- Dr. Aman Daftary
- Dr. Sabita S. Desai
Working hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Reports can be collected from OPD report collection counter on the next working day after 6 pm.
ARE YOU AWARE?
- 2 out of 3 women and 1 out of 8 men are at risk for lOsteoporosis.
- WHO places Asians at higher risk of Osteoporosis with lthe highest prevalence amongst Indians.
- The lifetime fracture risk in Indian women at 50 years is as high as 60%.
What is Osteoporosis?
"Osteoporosis" means porous and weak bones, which
are prone to fractures, due to loss of calcium and
collagen. It is currently the most underdiagnosed and
undertreated disorder in medicine.
What is DEXA / BMD ?
DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) and BMD
(Bone Mineral Densitometry) essentially are the same. It is
used to detect Osteoporosis at an early stage.
How is BMD useful?
- Helps to detect osteoporosis at an early stage.
- Helps to monitor the treatment of osteoporosis.
- Helps to assess the fat content of the body.
Which bones are assessed for BMD?
Essentially, BMD is done for the Lumbar Spine and Hips,
as these are the common bones that fracture due to osteoporosis.
What is whole body BMD?
In this, BMD of the spine, hips, both forearms and wrists is
done to give an estimate of the BMD. The fat content of
the whole body is also assessed by this method.
Why do a Body Fat Composition assessment?
Excess body fat is associated with cardiovascular
diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and
triglycerides, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers.
Hence assessment of fat muscle ratio helps to evaluate
risk of cardiovascular diseases, evaluates need to
undergo weight reduction programme and also evaluates
sportsmen to optimize performance level.
Will accurately assess Lean Mass as well as Body Fat. This
is an extremely good tool for people who are on a weight
control regime, and who would like to assess weight loss
significantly and accurately.
Nutrition, exercise and aging may have profound effects
on an individual's body composition. Body composition
measurement with dual-energy, X-ray absorptiometry
(DXA) can look beyond weight and the traditional body
mass index (BMI) to determine body fat distribution an
important risk factor in a variety of serious diseases.
In all these cases, body composition scans measurement
contributes to a thorough patient evaluation and helps
physicians monitor the effects of therapy, diet or exercise.
Who needs a BMD?
- Pre / Post menopausal women
- To evaluate risk of osteoporosis in patients who lhave undergone hysterectomy
- Alcoholic / smoker
- Family history of fractures
- People on steroids
- People with chronic liver disease or renal failure
- People who have undergone Organ Transplant
What preparation does one require?
No preparation of any sort is required. You can have your
full meal, and need not be fasting.
How long does the test take?
BMD test takes roughly 5 minutes to a maximum of 15
minutes if a whole body BMD is to be performed.
Are any injections given?
No injections are given for this test. This is a completely
painless, non- invasive procedure.
Are there any side effects?
None whatsoever documented so far (however this test is
not done in pregnancy, since this test involves an
extremely small dose of radiation).
How is the test done?
You have to lie down on a table used for BMD. A scanner
placed above you will then automatically measure the
BMD.
When does one get the reports?
Reports are given immediately within 30 minutes. Prior
appointment is not required.
BFC Body Fat Composition
Will accurately assess Lean Mass as well as Body Fat. This
is an extremely good tool for people who are on a weight
control regime, and who would like to assess weight loss
scientifically and accurately.
Hinduja Hospital is having the latest BMD i-DEXA model
in the healthcare industry. It can measure the bone density
and body fat composition with more precisely at the faster
speed than the other BMD machines
.
Consultant Doctor:
Timings:
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday).
Imaging Department
Tel: 2444 7657/58.
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