MR Enterography
MR Enterography is an imaging test which produces detailed pictures of your small intestine. It is non-invasive and does not use ionizing radiation. It may help your doctor diagnose the following:
What Should I Expect?
Prior to the exam, a contrast medium is intravenously and orally administered to highlight the small intestine. A drug may also be administered to decrease movement of the bowel, which may interfere with the images.
Tell your doctor about:
- if you may be pregnant
- any health problems
- recent surgeries
- allergies
The magnetic field is not harmful, but may cause some medical devices to malfunction. Most orthopedic implants pose no risk, but you should always tell the technologist if you have any devices or metal in your body.
How Is The Procedure Performed?
Prior to the procedure, you will be asked to drink several glasses of a water solution mixed with a contrast medium. You will be asked to drink the oral contrast medium both quickly and steadily so the liquid contrast fills your entire small bowel.
You will be positioned on the moveable examination table. Devices that contain coils capable of sending and receiving radio waves may be placed around or adjacent to the area of the body being studied.
If a contrast medium will be used in the MRI exam, a physician or technologist will insert a catheter intravenously (IV) — also known as an IV line — into a vein in your hand or arm. A saline solution may be used to inject the contrast medium. The solution will drip through the IV to prevent blockage of the IV catheter until the contrast medium is injected.
You will be placed into the magnet of the MRI unit and the radiologist and technologist will perform the examination while working at a computer outside of the room.
If a contrast medium is used during the examination, it will be injected into the IV after an initial series of scans. Additional series of images will be taken during or following the injection.
When the examination is complete, you may be asked to wait until the technologist or radiologist checks the images in case additional images are needed.