MRI by body area
Spine MRI in China
A spine MRI produces detailed pictures of the vertebrae, discs, spinal cord and nerves without using X-rays.
What the exam is
A spine MRI produces detailed pictures of the vertebrae, discs, spinal cord and nerves without using X-rays.
The exam may require an injection of gadolinium contrast. The ordering doctor decides.
What it is used for
Doctors commonly order this exam to assess:
- Spinal anatomy and alignment
- Disc and joint disease
- Compression or inflammation of the spinal cord and nerves
- Injury to bone, disc, ligament or spinal cord
- Infection of the vertebrae, discs or spinal cord
- Tumours in the vertebrae, spinal cord, nerves or surrounding tissue
- Changes after surgery, such as scarring or infection
This list describes how the exam is used in general. It is not advice about your situation. Whether you need this exam is a decision for a doctor.
How to prepare
- Remove all jewellery and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Some hospitals ask you to change into a gown, because some fabrics contain metallic fibres.
- Take your regular medication unless the hospital tells you otherwise.
- Rules on eating and drinking before an MRI vary between hospitals. We pass on the instructions for your appointment.
- You need to stay completely still while the images are taken.
What to tell the hospital beforehand
- Any device or metal in your body. Most orthopaedic implants pose no risk, but the magnetic field can make some medical devices malfunction.
- Kidney disease. If contrast is planned, the doctor assesses kidney function first.
- Pregnancy, or the possibility of it.
- Claustrophobia or anxiety. You can ask the doctor about a mild sedative, and you will need someone to take you home afterwards.
- Breastfeeding, if contrast is planned.
Limits and risks to know about
- In some patients a vertebral fracture is better detected by CT.
- Implants and metal objects can make parts of the image hard to read.
How we arrange it
You tell us the exam, the body area and when you plan to be in China. We reply with the hospital, the appointment date and a written quote. After the scan you receive your images as DICOM files and the radiologist's report in English, with the original Chinese report.
Other scan types
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the inside of the body. It does not use X-rays.
CT
Computed tomography uses X-ray technology to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the inside of the body. Unlike MRI, it uses ionising radiation.
PET-CT
PET-CT combines two exams. A small amount of radioactive material, called a radiotracer, shows how tissues are functioning, and a CT scan shows where. The most common radiotracer is F-18 FDG, which behaves like glucose.