Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Our imaging center, Puget Sound Imaging (PSI), specializes in orthopedic exams. If certain pathologies are present or you have had surgery, then contrast agents are injected into your blood stream to increase the visibility of cysts, masses and the spinal canal. Contrast agents can also be used in an exam called an arthrogram where the contrast is injected directly into the joint, under sterile conditions and with local anesthetic, to increase the visibility of the joint.
What is an MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of structures inside your body, mainly muscles, tendons, bones and surrounding soft tissue. The exam helps your doctor to evaluate and diagnose a variety of orthopedic problems, such as tendon tears, joint disorders and abnormalities, bone infections and hairline fractures, as well as any tumors of the bone and soft tissues.
Types of MRI Exams
- Scan without the fluid contrast agent.
- Scan with and without the fluid contrast agent (gadolinium). This is a two part procedure:
- You will first have an MRI scan of the body part without the fluid contrast agent.
- Then the contrast agent is injected into your blood stream by an MRI technologist and the second MRI scan of the body part is completed with the contrast agent.
What is an Arthrogram MRI?
An arthrogram MRI is unlike a typical MRI as it begins with the injection of fluid called contrast into the joint. This is a two part procedure: 1) The contrast agent in injected into the joint by a radiologic PA-C using a fluoroscopy (live X-Ray) C-arm machine to guide the needle, and then 2) The MRI scan of the joint is completed. The procedure may take up to 40 minutes. Want to learn more about what it’s like to get an MRI Arthrogram?
Quality and Safety
PSI has earned the American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI accreditation for Orthopaedics and Spine providing our patients with the ongoing assurance that our facility has met the most rigorous national standards for quality and safety.
Magnetom Espree Wide Bore MRI
PSI’s Magnetom Espree Wide Bore MRI accommodates patients of all ages and sizes (up to 550 lbs.). The wider diameter of the inner bore opening helps to reduce anxiety and feelings of claustrophobia. In fact, 60 percent of exams can be done with the patient’s head outside of the MRI system.
Personalized Patient Care
The imaging staff is dedicated to providing each patient with personalized care that fits their specific needs. To help you feel more relaxed we offer each patient a choice of music selections playing during the exam on an in-house Pandora-connected audio system. Blankets, extra pillows and eye masks are also options to increase exam comfort.
Imaging Partnership
At PSI we contract with board certified radiologists from TRA Medical Imaging to interpret your exam, providing expert and accurate diagnoses.