

Metal interferes with the MRI machine’s ability to produce a clear image. If you’re wearing anything that contains metal, including jewelry or sunglasses, you will need to remove those items. In the case of implants and pacemakers, those items can stop working properly due to an MRI’s powerful magnetic field. All of these things can affect how safely you can undergo an MRI. They’ll also ask whether you’ve ever worked with sheet metal or been injured with metal shrapnel. The medical staff will need to know if you have any metal in your body, including: During this test, you may need to carry out small tasks, such as answering basic questions or tapping your thumb with your fingertips.Īdditionally, there is a type of MRI called magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), which better examines the blood vessels in the brain. It does this by measuring metabolic changes that take place in your brain when you perform certain tasks. An fMRI can pinpoint areas of the brain responsible for speech and language, and body movement. These symptoms may be due to a brain issue, which an MRI scan can help detect.Ī functional MRI (fMRI) of the brain is useful for people who might have to undergo brain surgery. Your doctor may also order a head MRI to investigate symptoms such as: problems with development or structure (such as a Chiari malformation)Ī head MRI can help determine whether you sustained any damage from a stroke or head injury.hormonal disorders, such as acromegaly and Cushing’s syndrome.hydrocephalus, a buildup of spinal fluid in the brain cavities.aneurysms, or bulging in the blood vessels of the brain.

A head MRI is a useful tool for detecting a number of brain conditions, including:
