Full body MRI

In a full body MRI scan, cross sections of the whole of the inside of the body are generated in order to discover changes early on, may it be defects, hidden centres of inflammation, organ growth, tumours in the body or damages to the blood vessels.

In a single examination, the full body of the patient is displayed. Due to technical developments, the full body MRI delivers promising results particularly with regard to the classification of tumour stages, the extent to which a cancer has spread or with regards the early recognition of cancer especially in patients who are experiencing no symptoms.

Equipment information

High-end MRI "Philips Ingenia 1.5T"

High-field MRI "Philips Panorama 1.0T"

Before the examination

Before the examination starts, you will have to take off all metallic objects. These include also watches, hearing aids as well as cheque or credit cards. Metal parts in the body, for example fixed dentures, joint prostheses or metal plates after the operation of a fracture normally do not represent a problem. Please inform the staff if you have any metal-containing parts, in particular

vessel supports such as stents
vascular clips
a prosthetic heart valve
an insulin pump
metal fragments
tattoos

Since malfunctions may occur in the magnetic field, patients with cardiac pacemakers are excluded from the examination as are patients with inner ear prostheses (cochlear implants).

During the examination

During the examination, you are lying on a bench that is slowly moving into the opening of the system, that is in the direction of the magnet, in the beginning. You will then be completely or - for example during an examination of the knee joint - in part inside the system.
Magnet fields that are switched on and off create a relatively loud tapping noise that some patients find a nuisance. Therefore, you will get earplugs or a closed ear-protective device; you will often be able to hear music during the examination. Depending on the region of the body examined and on the problem, the examination will take a few minutes or up to half an hour.

Administration of a contrast agent

It may be necessary during an examination in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner to give you an injection of a special contrast medium. The injection is made into a systemic vein. The intravenous line is put in accordingly before examination.

Open magnetic resonance imaging

In addition to our conventional magnetic resonance imaging scanner, an open magnetic resonance imaging scanner (high-field MRI Philips Panorama) has been available to private patients and self-pay patients at the private practice "Open MRT ATOS Klinik" since September 2010. The practice is situated very near to Radiologische Gemeinschaftspraxis at Schneidmühlstr. 21.

The examination in the Panorama device constitutes a comfortable alternative for all patients, in particular for persons with

claustrophobia,
limited mobility,
overweight.

For more information on the open MRI, please visit: How an Open MRI works

Full body MRI

Equipment information

Process of examination