A form of scan called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates a three-dimensional image of your interior body parts. X-rays and CT scans cannot generate a clear image of soft tissue, hence MRIs are frequently used to help diagnose disorders involving the nerves, the muscles in your brain, organs, blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments.
Strong magnets are used in MRI machines to align the protons in your body. Your body receives brief radio wave bursts that are used to perturb these protons. The protons realign and emit signals that enable the MRI equipment to produce images in between radio wave pulses.
The majority of MRIs, according to the National Health Service, [1] take between 15 and 90 minutes to complete. Let’s examine the average duration of some of the most popular MRI modalities.
How Long Does an MRI of the Shoulder Take?
Usually, a shoulder MRI takes between 15 and 45 minutes. The process could take as little as 15 minutes in some circumstances.
According to Radiolog, [2] treatments that call for anesthesia may go more slowly by 15 to 30 minutes.
How Long Does A Knee MRI Take?
The following conditions around your knee joint can be identified with the aid of an MRI of your knee:
- weakness
- swelling
- bleeding
Typically, the MRI lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Little devices with coils may be wrapped around your knee during the process to aid in producing a clearer image.