More About MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and X-Ray Exams
For a helpful website regarding radiology exams, please visit Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation™ or Radiologyinfo.org.
General Questions
How should I prepare for the exam?
Many patients are apprehensive about imaging procedures. However, most examinations at PDI are painless or associated with only brief, mild discomfort. Feel free to call ahead of time to consult with one of our nurses or technologists. We strive to optimize the diagnostic quality of examinations at PDI, as well as the patient and family experience during their visit.
How do I make an appointment?
Once your doctor has recommended a radiological exam for you or your child, he/she needs to fax the order to our office at 414-529-3102 to make for the most efficient visit when you arrive.
Most of our exams, with the exception of x-ray, require a pre-procedure discussion with a member of the PDI staff and the patient. We recommend that you call first to assure that you are properly prepared for the exam.
General x-ray patients may "walk-in" at any time between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. with their physician’s order.
How do I find out the results of my exam?
A radiologist, a physician specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, analyzes the images and creates a written report that is immediately faxed to your physician, who will share the results with you. Except with some types of complex examinations, reports are created and sent on the day of the exam.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
At PDI, we welcome all insurance plans. Visit the Insurance page to see a list of insurance plans we have contracted with. Even if your plan is listed, it is a good idea to call your insurance company (the number is usually on the back of your insurance card) if you are concerned about insurance coverage.
Who interprets the results of the exam and how do I get the results?
At PDI, we have all board-certified radiologists. These are physicians specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams. They will analyze the images and fax a report to the physician who requested your exam. Your physician is the person who shares the results with you. For more information about our PDI radiologists, please visit this page: Our Team.
MRI and CT Questions
What if I cannot hold still long enough for a MRI or CT?
Patient motion during a CT or MRI examination can seriously degrade the quality of the images. Usually, reassurance by the staff before and during the examination is sufficient. The comforting environment of our centers and our caring staff help to alleviate anxiety before and during exams. For those individuals with severe anxiety or claustrophobia, our team will work with you and your doctor to plan the best approach to your imaging evaluation. When necessary, we can provide medications to help you get through the exam. Please let the PDI Receptionist know upon scheduling if you think you may need sedation. A radiology nurse will provide you with information about the potential for sedation, and how long you cannot eat or drink before the exam, just in case you need some extra help.
Where can I learn more about what to expect during the MRI or CT?
If you would like to come in and see the MRI or CT scanner prior to your visit, we can make arrangements for the visit between scheduled patients. Furthermore, an interactive video is available online at the Radiology Center at Starlight Children's Foundation™ to help patients understand what happens during a MRI or CT visit. Going through the video may help to decrease any stress prior to the exam.
MRI Specific Questions
What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging?
MRI is a non-invasive, painless, medical test that helps doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. MR imaging uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissue, bone and other internal body parts. The images can be seen on a computer monitor or printed on film or paper. MRI does not use x-rays.
What should I wear for the MRI exam?
Wear comfortable clothing, such as sweat pants or shorts and a t-shirt without writing on it. For women, a sports bra is best because there is no wire in the bra, but it is not required. Please do NOT wear any clothing that has metal or glitter on it. Make sure to remove hair pins, paper clips, and any other metal objects from your pockets before your visit.
What can I have in my hair during the MRI exam?
Please DO NOT wear a lot of product in your hair, such as hair spray or hair gel. Also, DO NOT wear hair clips or bobbie pins in your hair, as most are magnetic and cannot go into the MRI suite.
Can I go into the MRI suite if I am pregnant?
Regardless if you are the patient or parent, you may NOT go into the MRI suite if you are pregnant.
Can I go into the MRI suite if I had a metal injury to my eye?
No, due to safety issues with the magnet, you may not enter the MRI Suite if you have a known metal injury to the eye. Patients with possible prior injury are pre-screened with an x-ray.
Can I go into the MRI Suite if I have any sort of metal or a device implanted in my body?
Please alert the technologist or nurse prior to the scan if you had heart, brain or orthopedic surgery prior to your MRI examination date. They can determine if you have a device or other implant that is safe to go into the MRI suite.
What if I am claustrophobic (afraid of tight or closed spaces)?
The opening on the MRI machine is 57 cm. If you feel you have any issues with being in closed spaces, please alert the Nurse at PDI. The nurse will provide you with information about situations in which we recommend sedation. If sedation is a possibility, you will also be informed of the appropriate guidelines for eating and drinking prior to exam date. If the person accompanying the patient believes he/she is claustrophobic, they do not need to go into the MRI suite.
How long is an MRI scan?
It depends on the body part being scanned. Most scans take 30 min – 1 hour. However if multiple regions of the body are being evaluated, it may be somewhat longer. Also, if sedation is utilized, extra time is needed before and after the MRI scan to accommodate for the sedation administration and recovery time.
What does the MRI equipment look like?
The traditional MRI unit is a large cylinder-shaped tube surrounded by a circular magnet. You will lie on a moveable examination table that slides into the center of the magnet. The front and back of the magnet are open throughout the exam. Patients can listen to music on headphones. The technologist will remain at the computer outside the MRI suite during the examination, but will always be watching and available during the exam. Except for the sliding table, there are no moving parts on an MRI machine. A loud tapping sound occurs during scanning, due to the pulses of radio-waves that help create the images.
CT Specific Questions
What is a CT scan?
CT imaging — sometimes called CAT scanning — is a noninvasive, painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat various medical conditions. It provides greater clarity than a regular x-ray exam. CT uses special x-ray equipment to produce multiple cross-sectional images or pictures of the inside of your body. The images can be seen on a computer or printed on film or paper.
How do I prepare for my CT scan?
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. You may be given a gown to wear during the procedure. Metal objects including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins may affect the CT images and should be left at home or removed prior to your exam. You may also be asked to remove hearing aids and removable dental work. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours beforehand.
Females should always inform their physician or technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
What happens during a CT scan?
The technologist begins by positioning you on the CT examination table, usually lying flat on your back or possibly on your side or on your stomach. Straps and pillows may be used to help you maintain the correct position and to hold still during the exam.
If a contrast material is used, it will be swallowed, injected through an intravenous line (IV) or administered by enema, depending on the type of examination.
Next, the table will move quickly through the scanner to determine the correct starting position for the scans. Then, the table will move slowly through the machine as the actual CT scanning is performed. You may be asked to hold your breath during the scanning.
When the examination is completed, you will be asked to wait until the technologist determines if any additional images are required.
How long is a CT scan?
The scan itself is very short, usually 5 – 10 minutes. The actual image acquisition often takes less than a minute. In some situations, we may ask that you wait for the technologist to process the images and discuss them with the radiologist.
Ultrasound Questions
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound imaging is a painless procedure that helps doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use x-rays. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. A Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.
How do I prepare for my Ultrasound exam?
You should dress in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for an ultrasound exam. Other preparation depends on the type of examination. For some scans, your doctor may ask you to withhold food and drink for up to 12 hours before the appointment. For others, you may be asked to drink up to six glasses of water two hours prior to the exam and avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when the scan begins.
How long is an ultrasound exam?
Most exams are 20–30 minutes.
What happens during an ultrasound exam?
Most ultrasound examinations are painless, fast and easy. You will lie on your back on a soft padded examining table. The technologist will spread warm gel on the skin, and then move a hand-held probe back and forth across the skin until the desired images are captured. If scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel pressure or minor discomfort from the procedure. If a Doppler ultrasound study is performed, you may hear pulse-like sounds from the machine that change in pitch as the blood flow is monitored and measured. Once the imaging is complete, the gel will be wiped off your skin.
After an ultrasound exam, you may resume normal activities.
X-ray Questions
What is an x-ray?
X-rays are a form of radiation — like light or radio waves. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees, allowing pictures to be obtained of internal structures.
In a conventional x-ray exam, a small burst of radiation is aimed at and passes through the body, recording an image on a special image recording plate. Bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black. Traditional x-ray examinations utilize a photographic film. Modern x-ray systems, such as those at PDI, use a digital detector; the image data is stored on a computer, and the images are viewed on special high-resolution medical displays.
How do I prepare for my x-ray?
Most x-rays do not need any preparation. However certain fluoroscopy procedures do need specific preparation. If you have any questions about whether you need to prepare, please call PDI at 414-529-3100.
What can I wear for my x-ray?
We cannot have anything obscuring the x-ray image. Therefore, depending on the area of your body being imaged, you may need to change into a gown for the x-ray.
