Breast Tomosynthesis: How to Prepare and What to Expect
January 5, 2025
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If your doctor has scheduled you for an MRI, you may have questions about the upcoming scan. Magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable technique for capturing detailed views of tissues and organs in your body using magnetic fields and radio waves. In this guide, we’ll discuss approximately how long each type of MRI takes, so you know what to expect. We’ll also cover factors that may lengthen or shorten your scan.
The duration of your MRI will vary depending on the area of your body being scanned and your medical history. If you have a more complex health condition, the scan may take longer to capture detailed images. Generally, these scans can last anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes, depending on various factors that will be discussed later in this guide.
MRIs require a referral from your doctor, and scheduling may take time if the facility is fully booked. Results can take up to a week or more to reach your provider and you will discuss them at your next medical appointment. PocketHealth gives you secure access to the finalized report and images as soon as they are available. This allows you to review them before your appointment and prepare any questions for your provider.
Multiple elements play a role in how long your MRI will actually take:
Most patients won’t need a full body MRI, but in rare conditions it can be helpful, such as for those with genetic disorders or higher risks for cancer. Some private companies offer full body MRIs for patients curious about their health, but be aware that health insurance companies will not cover medically unnecessary scans.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 60 to 90 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 75 to 120 minutes
What to expect: You will lie down on a table that moves part or all of your body into the tube-like MRI machine, depending on the system being used. During the scan, it’s important to stay as still as possible, and you may need to wear hearing protection due to the loud tapping noises produced by the equipment.
A patient getting a head MRI
A head MRI can be used to scan your brain, nearby blood vessels, nerves, facial bones, skull, and structures of your inner eyes and ears. This imaging helps diagnose conditions such as tumors, inflammation, blood supply issues, pituitary gland disorders, dementia, stroke, and various other conditions.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 45 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 60 minutes
What to expect: With your head inside the MRI machine, you may feel more claustrophobic, so discuss any concerns with your doctor well before the appointment. You’ll lie face up on the table with your head in the MRI machine, wearing ear protection and a plastic, cage-like head radiofrequency coil over your head to enhance imaging. It may feel uncomfortable to lie still for an extended period, but it is not painful. The technician will provide pillows to support your legs and arms to help you relax. They also supply hearing protection and often allow you to listen to music during the scan.
If you have pain in your lower back or pelvis, your doctor may order a lumbar spine MRI to scan your lower back. Other reasons for this scan include spine injuries, multiple sclerosis, disk herniation, or even bladder problems.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 60 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 45 to 80 minutes
What to expect: Typically, you’ll lie on your back as the table is slid into the MRI machine, though you may need to be on your side or stomach if a different angle is required. Hearing protection may be necessary to guard against the loud thumping and humming, and it’s important to remain as still as possible during the scan.
Your cervical spine is the section of your spine that runs through your neck. You may need an MRI of this area for arm, shoulder, or neck pain. It is also useful for diagnosing spinal cancers, multiple sclerosis, infections or arthritis. Additionally, an MRI might be performed as a precaution before spinal surgery to ensure everything is as it should be before the operation.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 45 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 60 minutes
What to expect: You will lie on your back as the table slides your head and neck area into the MRI machine, where you’ll need to stay still. This process may increase feelings of claustrophobia, so discuss any necessary preparations with your doctor well before your appointment.
Common reasons for a shoulder MRI include investigating a mass, examining abnormal bone scan findings, or addressing shoulder pain or issues. The scan can reveal abnormalities in the bones and tissues and even detect tumors.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 15 to 45 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 60 minutes
What to expect: You will lie still on your back as your head and shoulders are inserted into the MRI machine, with the rest of your body remaining outside. Cage-like coils may be used near your shoulder to obtain clearer images.
A patient getting a knee MRI done
Knee MRIs can reveal damage to tendons, ligaments or cartilage. They are also useful for diagnosing osteoarthritis, tumors, fractures or assessing recovery from knee surgery. Additionally, an MRI might be performed in preparation for knee surgery to ensure there are no underlying conditions.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 15 to 45 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 60 minutes
What to expect: Lying on your back, the table will slide your body feet first into the MRI machine, with your head and upper body remaining outside. This positioning often feels less claustrophobic for many patients, though you will still need to keep still and small coils may be used around your knees for imaging.
Cardiac MRIs can reveal tissue damage from a heart attack, blood flow to the heart, inflammation, aortic issues, congenital heart problems and other conditions affecting this organ. It’s an especially helpful assessment for preparing for or recovering from heart surgery. Be aware that there can be a lot of variation in the length of this scan, depending on how thorough the imaging needs to be.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 60 to 90 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 60 to 120 minutes
What to expect: You will lie on your back as your torso is inserted into the MRI machine, where you’ll need to stay still. The technician may also place electrocardiogram leads on you to monitor your heartbeat and breathing during the scan.
Abdominal MRIs evaluate blood flow and vessels within the abdomen, identify causes of pain or swelling and diagnose other symptoms in this area. They can also detect masses in the spleen, kidneys, pancreas, liver and abdominal lymph nodes.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 60 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 90 minutes
What to expect: Lying on your back, most or all of your body will be inserted into the MRI machine, with cushions placed under your legs for added comfort as needed. They may also position radiofrequency coils over your abdomen in a cage-like structure or pad to enhance imaging views.
Chest MRIs help clarify previous CT scans or x-rays, looks for irregular growths or tumors within the chest and assesses blood flow. It also detects abnormal chest bone conditions or injuries and looks at the lymph nodes found in this region.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 60 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 30 to 90 minutes
What to expect: You will lie on your back as the table slides into the MRI machine. Cushions may be provided to support your legs or other areas for added comfort while you remain still for the duration of the exam.
Breast MRIs are recommended for people at high risk of breast cancer, to use in addition with their mammogram. This ensures the most accurate results, especially as breast MRIs by themselves can find non-cancerous growths or cysts and mistake them for false positives. This is why mammograms are the first course with MRIs to supplement for high risk patients only. Breast MRIs can also detect silicone breast implant leaks.
Duration (without a contrast dye): 30 to 60 minutes
Duration (if a contrast dye is required): 60 to 90 minutes
What to expect: You’ll lie face down on the table with your arms overhead on a cushion and your breasts positioned in a dedicated breast coil device to enhance imaging. The machine will be equipped with padded, comfortable supports for your face and arms during the scan.
A patient using PocketHealth to view their MRI report
Some MRI results are ready within a day or two, while others may take up to a week or longer. The timing depends on the workload of the imaging facility and whether your doctor requested expedited results. The MRI needs to be officially interpreted and the report completed before your doctor reviews everything with you at your follow-up appointment.
If you want to view your report before your appointment, PocketHealth offers faster access, allowing you to see the results as soon as they’re officially uploaded. This gives you the chance to gather your thoughts for your next medical visit. MyCare Navigator is particularly useful for personalized insights and next steps. It helps you formulate individualized, relevant questions to ask your doctor, ensuring you make the most of your time with them.
Understanding your MRI report can be daunting due to the complex terms and numerical values involved. PocketHealth Report Reader simplifies this process by offering clear, easy-to-understand definitions for medical terms—just tap or click on underlined words to see them. Additionally, MyCare Navigator helps you stay on top of your health by highlighting and communicating any recommended follow-ups based on your report. These tools not only empower you with the knowledge you need but also ensure you’re prepared to engage in your care.
