Important information Learn more about the medical details
Important information
Learn more about the medical details
Magnetic resonance
tomography
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a modern medical imaging method that can produce three-dimensional images of the human body without X-rays.
The images are produced with the help of a strong magnetic field that is maintained in the "tube" of the MRI machine.
Magnetic
resonance
tomography
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a modern medical imaging method that can produce three-dimensional images of the human body without X-rays.
The images are produced with the help of a strong magnetic field that is maintained in the "tube" of the MRI machine.
"Assembly line work doesn't suit us."
Milen Golchev, M.D., Specialist in Radiology and Founder of Tiamana
"Assembly line work doesn't suit us."
Milen Golchev, M.D., Specialist in Radiology and Founder of Tiamana
Modern scanners
Similar to other technologies, MRI scanners are always improving and scientists are working hard to eliminate three disadvantages of the system:
Loud noises - the magnetic field must continuously change so that the information for the images can be created. This creates the sometimes unpleasant noises. The volume increases over time, but it does so very slowly. For this reason, you get hearing protection with integrated headphones. This has two advantages - firstly, it is much quieter and more comfortable during the examination and secondly, you can listen to the playlists we have prepared for you during the examination.
Examination duration - most patients are dissatisfied with the duration of the examination. Here, too, progress is always being made, so that soon the examination of a knee will be well under 10 minutes. Currently, you can expect MRI scans to take less than 15 minutes on average. It is very important that you lie still during the examination so that the images are not blurred.
Small opening of the tunnel - it is very difficult to maintain the strong magnet field homogeneously along the entire tunnel. For this reason, the openings of the scanners were very narrow in the beginning. The latest generation has a much wider opening with a diameter of 70 cm and the tube is open from both sides.
The advantage of some examinations of the joint is that you don't go in with your whole body. You can generally remember that the part of the body you are examining must be in the middle of the tube. We have a gallery where you can see your body position during the different examinations.
Modern scanners
Similar to other technologies, MRI scanners are always improving and scientists are working hard to eliminate three disadvantages of the system:
Loud noises - the magnetic field must continuously change so that the information for the images can be created. This creates the sometimes unpleasant noises. The volume increases over time, but it does so very slowly. For this reason, you get hearing protection with integrated headphones. This has two advantages - firstly, it is much quieter and more comfortable in the unit and secondly, you can listen to the playlists we have prepared for you during the examination.
Examination duration - most patients are dissatisfied with the duration of the examination. Here, too, progress is always being made, so that soon the examination of a knee will be well under 10 minutes. Currently, you can expect MRI scans to take less than 15 minutes on average. It is very important that you lie still during the examination so that the images are not blurred.
Small opening of the tunnel - it is very difficult to maintain the strong magnet field homogeneously along the entire tunnel. For this reason, the openings of the scanners were very narrow in the beginning. The latest generation has a much wider opening with a diameter of 70 cm and the tube is open from both sides.
The advantage of some examinations of the joint is that you don't go in with your whole body. You can generally remember that the part of the body you are examining must be in the middle of the tube. We have a gallery where you can see your body position during the different examinations.
Areas of application
We are subspecialised in musculoskeletal radiology and use the MRI to diagnose injuries as well as other pathological conditions of the following organs or tissue types:
- Head
- Neck
- Spine
- Muscles, tendons and cartilage
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Hand and wrist
- Pelvis and hip
- Knee
- Ankle and foot
- Arms and legs
Operational
areas
We are subspecialised in musculoskeletal radiology and use the MRI to diagnose injuries as well as other pathological conditions of the following organs or tissue types:
- Head
- Neck
- Spine
- Muscles, tendons and cartilage
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Hand and wrist
- Pelvis and hip
- Knee
- Ankle and foot
- Arms and legs
Special Examinations
Some questions require additional measures before or during the MRI examination so that we can make them visible on the image.
The most common measure is the intravenous administration of contrast medium - here a superficial blood vessel (usually in the crook of the arm) is used as access via a small needle. This non-radioactive contrast medium fluid helps us to (better) recognise inflammations, small injuries or tumours.
The administration of contrast media can be carried out in every Tiamana examination centre and is one of the routine measures. We will explicitly inform you before the examination whether we consider it necessary in your case. You can decide at the end whether you want to have it or not.
Some changes or injuries in the body can only be visualised with a targeted administration of contrast medium directly into the joint. We are working on being able to offer you such examinations and will announce it when the time comes.
Until this is the case, we could, on your request, recommend experienced colleagues in your area who can perform this exam.
Special examinations
Some questions require additional measures before or during the MRI examination so that we can make them visible on the image.
The most common measure is the intravenous administration of contrast medium - here a superficial blood vessel (usually in the crook of the arm) is used as access via a small needle. This non-radioactive contrast medium fluid helps us to (better) recognise inflammations, small injuries or tumours.
The administration of contrast media can be carried out in every Tiamana examination centre and is one of the routine measures. We will explicitly inform you before the examination whether we consider it necessary in your case. You can decide at the end whether you want to have it or not.
Some changes or injuries in the body can only be visualised with a targeted administration of contrast medium directly into the joint. We are working on being able to offer you such examinations and will announce it when the time comes.
Until this is the case, we could, on your request, recommend experienced colleagues in your area who can perform this exam.
The exam explained
A standard MRI scan can take between 10 and 30 minutes. Most of the time you will lie on your back and the body region of interest will be positioned in the middle of the tube. As an example, in the case of ankle trauma, the entire body including the head would be outside the machine.
Again, we would like to emphasise that you should lie very still so that the images are not blurred. This makes the assessment much more difficult and sometimes the images may even no longer have any real significance.
The technical staff keeps an eye on you the whole time - both on a monitor and through the window of the control room.
The MRI machine makes strange loud noises during the entire examination. This is absolutely normal and technically caused by the rapid change of direction of the magnetic fields.
You will receive earplugs from us and - if you wish - music during the examination. Check out our playlists - we've put together cool movie soundtracks (Snow, Surf, Skate etc.) for you.
The intravenous contrast medium is only used when we want to better differentiate between normal, possibly injured or inflamed tissue. The non-radioactive contrast fluid is usually given through a small venous access at the elbow. Of course, only if you want it.
The contrast medium is very well tolerated and is excreted through the kidneys within the next few hours.
If you have problems with your kidneys or have had an unexpected reaction to contrast media, you must inform us.
The exam explained
A standard MRI scan can take between 10 and 30 minutes. Most of the time you will lie on your back and the body region of interest will be positioned in the middle of the tube. As an example, in the case of ankle trauma, the entire body including the head would be outside the machine.
Again, we would like to emphasise that you should lie very still so that the images are not blurred. This makes the assessment much more difficult and sometimes the images may even no longer have any real significance.
The technical staff keeps an eye on you the whole time - both on a monitor and through the window of the control room.
The MRI machine makes strange loud noises during the entire examination. This is absolutely normal and technically caused by the rapid change of direction of the magnetic fields.
You will receive earplugs from us and - if you wish - music during the examination. Check out our playlists - we've put together cool movie soundtracks (Snow, Surf, Skate etc.) for you.
The intravenous contrast medium is only used when we want to better differentiate between normal, possibly injured or inflamed tissue. The non-radioactive contrast fluid is usually given through a small venous access at the elbow. Of course, only if you want it.
The contrast medium is very well tolerated and is excreted through the kidneys within the next few hours.
If you have problems with your kidneys or have had an unexpected reaction to contrast media, you must inform us.
