Pediatric MRI

If your child has been scheduled for an MRI, it means their doctor would like a closer look at their tissues or organs. MRI does not use radiation. 

What is magnetic resonance imaging? 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed images of organs and internal structures. MRI provides different information than X-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT).  

An MRI scanner is shaped like a tunnel with a motorized table that slides in and out of the tube. The exam is usually painless and quick. For some MRI exams, we will give your child a contrast agent through an intravenous line (IV) to make the organs and structures more visible on the images. 

How can I help my child prepare for the exam? 

• If your child will be having an MRI with contrast, or if your child will be sedated for the exam, you will need to follow some preparation instructions. A nurse will provide you with instructions before your appointment. 
• On the day of the exam your child should wear comfortable clothes.  
• Please leave all jewelry, hair clips, and other metal objects at home.  
• If you have copies of prior exams, bring them with you to the appointment.  
• Please make childcare arrangements for siblings as they will not be allowed into the exam room. 
• If you are pregnant, you will not be allowed in the room during the exam and may wish to have someone else be with your child. 

What will happen during the exam? 

• Check in for your child’s appointment on the Connect patient portal. You may also check in when you arrive at the imaging center.  
• When you arrive for your appointment, your child will be asked to change into a gown.  
• You will be allowed to accompany your child to the exam room.  
• We will review your child’s medical history and MRI Safety Checklist with you. 
• If your child will be receiving contrast or sedation, a nurse will insert an IV, usually into their hand or arm.  
• A technologist will then take you and your child into the MRI exam room and position them on the table with their head on a pillow or in a padded cradle. The technologist may place a plastic device called a coil around the area of the body that will be looked at.  
• Your child will be offered a blanket and earplugs. They will also be given an emergency call button in case they need to urgently contact the technologist.  
• The technologist will leave the room to perform the scan, but they will always be able to see, hear, and speak with your child. 
• During the exam, the table will slide into the scanner. A red light may shine on your child’s body, which helps ensure that they are properly positioned. MRI scanners make loud buzzing and clicking sounds. This is normal. 
• The technologist will ask your child to hold very still and may ask them to hold their breath a few times during the scan. Any type of movement during an MRI scan will make the images look fuzzy. 
• An MRI takes from 20 minutes to one hour to complete. 

Are there any risks? 

MRI does not use radiation, and there are no known harmful side-effects associated with temporary exposure to the strong magnetic field used by MRI scanners. 

If your child has an implanted metal object or device, the strong magnetic field could pose a risk. We will screen you and your child several times throughout the process to make sure you are safe to enter the magnetic field. Many devices have been tested and determined to be safe for MRI. If your child has an implantable device, pins or screws, tattoos, shrapnel, or other non-removable metal objects in their body, our radiologists and technologists will evaluate the object and determine whether there is a safety issue. 

After the exam 

After the exam your child can immediately resume normal activities. If your child was sedated, you will be asked to wait in the imaging area until they recover. A radiologist will analyze the MRI images and will share the results with the doctor who requested the exam. Your child’s doctor will then discuss the results with you.