Neck MRI

This is a picture of a Neck MRI performed on a 1.5 T MRI Scanner at Smart Choice MRI West Milwaukee.

 

A person who has suffered a serious neck injury or experiences chronic pain may need to receive an Neck or Cervical Spine MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan. A doctor can use an MRI to carefully investigate the following:

• Assess the Spinal anatomy
• Visualize anatomical variations and diseased tissue in the spine
• Help plan surgeries on the spine such as decompression of a pinched nerve or spinal fusion
• Assess the disks-bulging, degenerated or herniated interbertebral disk
• Explore possible causes in patients with back pain.

Knowing what to expect when going in for an MRI can ease the stresses and concerns a person may have. A patient can expect to answer many medical history questions before the procedure, lie down for up to an hour and a half while his or her neck is being scanned. At the hospital or specialty clinic, technicians, nurses, or doctors usually ask patients several questions about their medical history. A medical professional usually asks whether a patient has any lingering heart problems or other special concerns. A technician might also ask about the specific symptoms regarding an injury or condition to get a better idea of what to focus on during the MRI scan. 

When it is time to start the scan, the patient is instructed to dress in our Smart Choice MRI sweat pants and t-shirt and remove any metal jewelry, bracelets, and watches as metal can disrupt the MRI machine. The patient is told to lie down on a table that is slid into the machine. For an Neck or Cervical Spine MRI, a person will have the upper half of his body in the machine.

During the procedure, the technician instructs the individual to remain very still to ensure accurate readings. The machine makes clicking or knocking sounds while it is recording images, so loud noises should not be a concern. Depending on the severity and complexity of an injury, the Neck MRI may take anywhere from about fifteen minutes to half an hour to complete. Once the procedure is finished, the technician will help the patient off of the table and allow him or her to redress.

Neck MRI images are carefully interpreted by our trained radiologists and results will be sent to your doctor within 24 hours.  Based on the results, physicians can make accurate diagnoses and decide on the best treatment options. It is possible that a patient may have to receive more than one MRI to monitor progress and the effectiveness of a surgery or other treatment.