What is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head?
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the organs and structures inside the body. An MRI of the head can give your doctor information about your brain, eyes, ears, and nerves.
When you have an MRI, you lie on a table and the table moves into the MRI machine.
Why is an MRI of the head done?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head is done to:
- Look for the cause of headaches.
- Help diagnose astrokeor blood vessel problems in the head. Problems with blood vessels may include ananeurysmor abnormal twisted blood vessels that are present at birth (this is called an arteriovenous [AV] malformation).
- Check blood flow or blood clots to the brain. MRI can show bleeding in or around the brain.
- Check symptoms of a known or suspectedhead injury.
- Check symptoms such as change in consciousness, confusion, or abnormal movements. These symptoms may be caused by brain diseases, such asHuntington's disease,multiple sclerosis (MS),Parkinson's disease, orAlzheimer's disease.
- Check for "water on the brain" (hydrocephaly).
- Look for tumors, infections, anabscess, or conditions of the brain or brain stem, such asencephalitisormeningitis.
- Check the eyes, the nerves from the eyes to the brain (optic nerves), the ears, and the nerves from the ears to the brain (auditory nerves).
- Look for problems of thepituitary gland.
- Investigate or follow a finding seen on another test.
What happens during your child's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head?
- Your child may have contrast dye put into their arm through a tube called an I.V.
- Your child will lie on a table that is part of the MRI scanner.
- The table will slide into the space that contains the magnet.
- Inside the scanner, your child will hear a fan and feel air moving. They may hear tapping, thumping, or snapping noises.
- Your child will be asked to hold still during the scan. And your child may be asked to hold their breath for short periods. You may need to help your child do these things.
- Your child will be kept safe and comfortable during the test. You may be able to stay in the room with your child. A technologist will watch through a window and talk with your child during the test.
How do you prepare for an MRI of the head?
In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.
Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax. If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home.
What do the results of an MRI of the head mean?
The radiologist may tell you some of the results of the MRI right after the test. Full results are sent to your doctor or specialist in 1 to 2 days.
Normal: | All structures of the head—the brain, its vessels, spaces, nerves, and surrounding structures—are normal. |
|---|---|
| No abnormal growths, such as tumors, in or around the brain are present. | |
| No bleeding, abnormal blood vessels (AV malformations), abnormal pockets of fluid, blockage in the flow of blood, or bulges in the blood vessels (aneurysm) are present. | |
| No signs of infection or inflammatory disease, such as encephalitis or meningitis, are present. | |
Abnormal: | Tumors in the brain or in areas outside the brain, such as an acoustic neuroma, are present. |
| Bleeding or swelling (edema) in or around the brain is present. | |
| Areas of infection or inflammatory disease, such as encephalitis or meningitis, are present. | |
| Abnormal areas in the brain may mean that certain diseases, such as Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease, are present. | |
| Bulges or weak areas (aneurysms) or abnormal blood vessels (such as an AV malformation) are present. |
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