1 to 2 weeks It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for the results of an MRI scan to come through, unless they’re needed urgently.
Contents
- 1 How long does it take to get urgent MRI results NHS?
- 2 What does it mean if your MRI results are taking a long time?
- 3 How long does it take a radiologist to read an MRI?
- 4 Why are MRI scans so slow?
- 5 Can you have 2 MRI scans in a week?
- 6 Why do I need a second MRI scan with contrast?
- 7 What does an abnormal MRI of the brain mean?
- 8 How much does an MRI scan cost the NHS?
- 9 How long will a stroke show up on an MRI?
Do you get MRI results quicker if something is wrong?
If there’s a cause for concern they will often try and get you back earlier, although in some cases there can be a bit of a wait.
How long does it take to get urgent MRI results NHS?
When will I get the results? – The results will be sent to the doctor who referred you for the scan, usually a hospital Consultant (specialist). Most results are available to your Consultant within 1-2 weeks. For more urgent problems, they may be available sooner.
What does it mean if your MRI results are taking a long time?
Factors That Affect MRI Results Time – As previously stated, a number of variables can affect how long it takes to get MRI findings. The following are some of the most frequent elements that can impact the process’s speed: Radiologist availability : Radiologists are specialized medical professionals responsible for interpreting the images generated by MRI scans.
- If the radiologist is not available to review the images right away, it may take longer to receive the results.
- Healthcare provider policies : The policies and procedures of the healthcare provider or medical facility where they perform the MRI scan can also affect the speed of the process.
- For example, some facilities may require that all MRI results be reviewed by a second radiologist for quality control, which can add extra time to the process.
The urgency of the scan : Urgent or emergency MRI scans may be prioritized for review over routine scans, which can result in faster results. The complexity of the case : If the MRI scan reveals a complex or unusual condition, it may take longer for the radiologist to review and interpret the images, which can also delay the time it takes to receive results.
- Follow-up testing : In some cases, the radiologist may recommend additional testing or consultation with a specialist before providing a final report.
- It can add to the overall required time.
- Communication between healthcare providers : The time it takes to communicate the MRI results to your healthcare provider may also vary depending on how quickly the radiologist can review the images and how quickly they can communicate their findings to your provider.
It is important to keep in mind that the timeframe for receiving advance open MRI results can vary widely depending on these factors and others. If you have concerns about the timing of your results or need more information, it is always best to speak with your healthcare provider or the imaging facility.
Do bad MRI results come back right away?
When Do I Get My MRI Results Back? – You won’t be able to see your MRI results right away, Your results will be captured by the MRI technician, then given to a radiology specialist, who will analyze the results and send them to your doctor. Your doctor will contact you between 1-2 weeks to schedule a follow-up appointment and create a treatment plan if necessary.
- If your results reveal an emergency, your radiologist will get you emergency care immediately.
- Your technician is not qualified to tell you if something is wrong – you can ask, but they will decline to answer.
- While you might see this as adding to your stress, the reason is to prevent any stress that would come from incorrect or inaccurate interpretations of your images.
If you get MRI results that are bad or serious, your doctor will likely contact you right away. Their priority is your wellbeing and safety and they want to get you the care you need as fast as possible. If your results are not serious, they will be ready within 1-2 weeks.
- Although 2 weeks can feel like a long time to wait for your results, it will be well worth it because MRIs are the most accurate scans available today.
- They are approximately 90% accurate, leaving a 10% chance of a false positive or false negative.
- There are some rare cases of misinterpretation of results, which can usually be prevented by getting multiple opinions,
Your medical team has multiple chances to accurately understand your MRI results – first the radiologist analyzes your scans, then your doctor looks at your results. For your peace of mind, though, you may want another opinion. Ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist and have them interpret your MRI results.
Route 73 Office – Voorhees Township, NJ Greentree Office – Marlton, NJ Washington Township Office – Sewell, NJ Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ Voorhees Office – Voorhees Township, NJ West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified sub-specialized radiologists who read and interpret studies at SJRA here,
How long does it take for MRI results if it’s serious?
Getting your MRI scan results – Your MRI scan needs to be studied by a Radiologist (a doctor trained in interpreting scans and X-rays). It may also need to be discussed with other specialists. This means it’s unlikely you’ll get the results of your scan immediately.
Is it normal to wait 6 weeks for MRI results?
As demand for MRI scanning in busy NHS departments increases, so too does the wait time for MRI appointments. MRI scan waiting times are currently up to 6 weeks on average, with an additional one to two weeks before the results from the MRI scan are published and available to your doctor.
- A long wait time can add to the stress and anxiety that some patients may already be experiencing and we know how important the results can be, especially for patients who are awaiting a diagnosis in order to start treatment.
- At the Chenies Mews Imaging Centre, we can provide appointments for the majority of MRI scans far quicker than our NHS counterparts, with appointments often available the same day and results available within just 4 hours of the scan taking place.
This allows patients to obtain the MRI scan and crucial results much quicker, aiding a faster diagnosis and treatment and potentially better outcomes. How do we do this? MRI is our speciality and we know how best to get the most out of our scanners. We have optimised the scanners and the imaging techniques we use to make the process as efficient as possible.
- This ensures that patients are seen as soon as possible and helps to accommodate referrals quickly at even peak times.
- Once the scan is complete, our in house team of expert radiology and cardiology consultants may then make use of powerful image processing computers and a highly sophisticated radiology system to view and carefully analyse the images in order to write their detailed report.
Once this is complete, our team will then issue the report to the referring clinician without delay. Most importantly, although we can offer appointments very quickly through our efficient service, we don’t rush our patients. In fact, we are still able to offer appointment slots that allow our staff and our patients plenty of time to prepare for the scan and make use of the additional comforts that our expertly designed clinic offers.
- For patients who are anxious, we can ensure that they are allowed extra time to familiarise themselves with our extra wide and spacious MRI scanners with the help of our caring team.
- If you or a family member has been referred for an MRI scan and would like to avoid the wait, please get in touch to discuss your needs.
Once we understand the type of scan you need, we can then provide you with a fixed all-inclusive price and offer you the next available appointment. Share Story
Will a radiologist tell you if something is wrong?
Should I Be Worried About Getting A CT Scan? – A CT scan does not necessarily mean something serious is wrong with you – you should not be stressed or concerned about your results. During and after your scan, your radiologist will not tell you if something is wrong based on your images.
- If your radiologist notices something on your scan that requires emergency treatment, they will get you that treatment immediately.
- Your doctor will receive your CT scan results within 24 hours of your scan.
- They will need some time to interpret your results and call you to set up a follow-up appointment to explain your results and potentially create a treatment plan.
Getting any sort of medical imaging can be stressful. Asking questions ahead of time can help assuage that stress. Our team of trained professionals is ready and waiting to help answer your questions. At South Jersey Radiology, you and your comfort are our top priorities.
Greentree Office – Marlton, NJ Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ Voorhees Office – Voorhees Township, NJ Route 73 Office – Voorhees Township, NJ Washington Township Office – Sewell, NJ West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified, sub-specialized radiologists who read and interpret studies at SJRA, here,
How long does it take a radiologist to read an MRI?
Key takeaways:
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a safe, painless, and non-invasive screening test that gives detailed pictures of the inside of your body.How long does it take to get MRI results? Well, it depends on the nature of the test (emergency or routine), time of day, day of the week and other factors.While the scan may take 1-4 hours, the final report may take from a few hours to a few days.
Any medical test can cause some anxiety. Getting an MRI is no different. And once you’ve taken the scan, it is only natural to ask the question “How long does it take to get MRI results?” To answer this question, you’ll have to take certain things into account. Let’s take a look.
What if MRI shows something?
When to call your doctor – Ideally, when your doctor orders an MRI, they should tell you how long it will take to obtain results. You will typically go to a follow-up appointment to review not only your results, but also the treatment options relevant to the MRI findings.
Why are MRI scans so slow?
Getting an MRI means being in a noisy, claustrophobia-inducing tube. For many, that’s no fun. For others—like children or the very unwell—it’s worse. So to make these diagnostic tools run even faster, researchers are exploring incorporating a new tactic: using artificial intelligence to take the raw data generated by the MRI machine and create readable images.
The reason MRI scans are slow, explains Daniel Sodickson, a professor in the department of radiology at NYU School of Medicine, is that they need to capture all the data necessary to generate a nice image for a radiologist to interpret. A knee scan can take around 15 to 20 minutes; a brain, 30 minutes; imaging a heart can last an hour.
But what if you could run that machine faster and still get a usable image? Using AI, “it may be possible to capture less data, and therefore image faster, while still preserving—or even enhancing—all the rich information content of the magnetic resonance images,” Sodickson says.
- Here’s how they’d do it: They’d run the MRI scan faster, gathering less raw data in the process.
- But instead of interpreting that raw data the traditional way—which involves a tried-and-true non-AI mathematical process—they train artificial intelligence to do the data-to-image conversion.
- If researchers try to interpret the fast-MRI data the traditional way, the results are bad, because there’s not enough data in the first place.
With AI, they are better. The goal right now is to be able to run an MRI scan as much as 10 times faster and get an image with the required accuracy. Researchers at NYU have been working on this idea since 2016, and now they’ve announced they’re partnering with the AI research wing of Facebook, called FAIR, to push it forward. This is a low quality image of a knee created by running an MRI machine faster than usual and interpreting that raw data the traditional way, without AI. NYU School of Medicine / Facebook The project represents an interesting approach to incorporating artificial intelligence into medicine.
AI is frequently used to analyze what is in an image; in everyday life, those images could be pictures of pasta or hot dogs uploaded to Yelp, for example. Or, in the case of medical images like X-rays, research studies have explored using AI to analyze tuberculosis in X-rays or knees from MRIs, And in a collaboration between Alphabet’s DeepMind and Moorfields Eye Hospital in England, AI will analyze three-dimensional scans of the backs of patients’ eyes and even suggest treatment.
But in this case, the strategy is different: the AI is helping create the image in the first place. This is what an MRI image of a knee should look like—this was created using the traditional, non-AI approach from an MRI running at normal speed. The NYU / Facebook project aims to create images of this quality, but created by AI from less data. NYU School of Medicine / Facebook “AI is capable of learning transforms that are not immediately obvious to the human mind,” Sodickson says, referring to the process of transforming the raw data into the image that radiologists later read.
“Early indications are very positive that this is something that AI can do well.” Of course, creating an image from less data than usual sounds risky—what if the AI interpreted that data in a way that produced a nice-looking picture, but missed something critical? A small tear in a ligament, or a little tumor? Sodickson says that’s the biggest issue on their radar.
“We need to be sure that what we are presenting is truth,” he says. “We have lots of ways to try to test this.” The AI isn’t yet generating images from the fast scans that are as good as the pictures from the slower, normal scans, although the AI already does a better job at creating images from less data than previous methods were capable of doing.
Can you have 2 MRI scans in a week?
Is the procedure safe? –
MRI is a very safe procedure. As noted above, MRI does not use x-rays. In theory, you could undergo many MRI examinations without any cumulative effects.
How often are MRI reports wrong?
Radiologist Expertise – “Body MRI scans are highly complex. Whether it’s an abdominal MRI, pelvic MRI, chest MRI, or full body MRI – these types of scans require specific training and expertise to be read properly. In the field of radiology, this is called subspecialization.
Ideally, every scan should be interpreted by the appropriate subspecialist – be that a breast imager, body imager, cardiac imager etc. But many imaging facilities and hospitals don’t have a full team of subspecialists. In such cases, subspecilaity scans, like a body MRI, may end up getting read by a generalist – a radiologist without subspecialty training.
This presents a high risk for cognitive error,” says Dr. Semelka. “These mistakes frequently lead to delayed or incorrect treatment plans. Cancers can be missed, resulting in patient death within a few months. Benign lesions may be misdiagnosed as cancer, resulting in unnecessary extra tests and surgery – which contains the risk of complications, including death.” There are many nuances in a body MRI scan.
Experience in identifying how different diseases can appear in imaging is crucial to an accurate interpretation. Quite literally, it can be a matter of life and death for a patient. Getting a second opinion empowers patients with an opportunity to make sure their scans are interpreted by a subspecialist.
With DocPanel, for example, you can either select the radiologist yourself – or you can opt to have the company’s medical team select the best expert for you. Either way, there’s complete transparency. And patients can rest assured that a subspecialist is reading thier scans.
How reliable are MRI results?
MRI Scans Are Often a More Accurate Way To Detect Cancer – MRI scanning is a more accurate tool for detecting some cancers. It may outperform ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and mammography at identifying more invasive breast cancer. It’s also more accurate than a CT scan for detecting uterine, prostate, and some liver cancers.
- Early and accurate detection offers peace of mind.
- If cancer is detected early, you’ll be that much farther along in your treatment protocol.
- That’s an easy way to ensure a long, healthy life.
- Ezra takes safety to heart and has protocols such as thorough cleanings between exams, social distancing in waiting rooms, and providing MRI-compatible masks to wear during scans.
We encourage you to get your annual cancer screening appointments booked. Book an Ezra full-body MRI scan today, Do you have a loved one who could benefit from an Ezra scan? Purchase one of our Ezra gift cards, You can also schedule a call with our team to learn more.
Will brain MRI show ear problems?
Imaging Tests – If tinnitus is unilateral—meaning you hear the noise in only one ear—doctors may recommend an imaging test. Unilateral tinnitus may indicate a structural problem or medical condition on one side of the head that can be viewed using imaging techniques.
Doctors at NYU Langone may use one or more tests, such as an MRI scan, CT scan, or ultrasound, to assist with diagnosis. These tests create detailed pictures of structures inside the body, including the inner ear, the nerves surrounding the ear, and the brain. An MRI scan may reveal a growth or tumor near the ear or the eighth cranial nerve that could be causing tinnitus.
Imaging tests can also help doctors evaluate pulsatile tinnitus. They can show changes in the blood vessels near the ears and determine whether an underlying medical condition is causing symptoms. Typically, if tinnitus occurs in both ears and is non-pulsatile, no diagnostic imaging tests are required to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.
Why do I need a second MRI scan with contrast?
Why do I Need Contrast for my MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive way to take a look at what’s going on inside your body. It uses a magnetic field and radio waves to alter the hydrogen atoms in your body. When they realign themselves, a radio signal is emitted, which is then captured and interpreted by a computer to produce a 2D or 3D image of the scanned area.
- This image is examined by a radiologist and given to your doctor to aid in your diagnosis.
- What is a Contrast MRI? In some cases, your doctor may request advanced MRI services with contrast.
- This is a liquid dye solution injected through an IV into your veins.
- About 30% of MRI scans use a gadolinium-based dye, a paramagnetic metal ion, because of how it travels through magnetic fields.
Right before your MRI scan, a technician will inject the contrast into your veins with an IV. The fluid circulates through your bloodstream and is absorbed in some tissues, making them easier to see. After 10-30 seconds, you’ll be ready for the scan. Why Would I Need a Contrast MRI? Most MRI services do not require contrast dye.
- However, an additional contrast MRI may be requested if a non-contrast MRI has not produced a clear enough image.
- Air and hard bone don’t give off an MRI signal, so they appear black or very dark on the scan.
- Bone marrow, spinal fluid, blood, and soft tissues will vary from black to white.
- Comparing the light and dark areas helps distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues.
The targeted tissues will be bright white by adding the contrast dye, and the resulting image will have improved quality and clarity over a non-contrast MRI. This helps your radiologist and doctor better see any disease or abnormality inside your body.
The contrast dyes are ideal for measuring and assessing brain tumors and other brain-related conditions such as traumatic brain injury, developmental anomalies, multiple sclerosis, stroke, dementia, and infection.When used in arteries and veins, the dye makes them glow bright on the scan to identify aneurysms, blockages of the blood vessels, the blood supply of specific organs, carotid artery disease, and arteriovenous malformations.Because of its sensitivity to cartilage and bone structure, contrast dye makes it easier to detect herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal tumors, spinal cord compression, and fractures.
Has Your Doctor Recommended an MRI Scan? When you need advanced MRI services, contact Advanced Surgical Hospital. Please call us today to schedule your appointment or reach out online with any questions. Same-day, walk-in appointments for MRI Imaging services are welcome and will be accommodated as the schedule permits. : Why do I Need Contrast for my MRI?
What does an abnormal MRI of the brain mean?
What Abnormal Results Mean – Abnormal results may be due to:
Abnormal blood vessels in the brain ( arteriovenous malformations of the head )Tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain ( acoustic neuroma )Bleeding in the brainBrain infectionBrain tissue swelling Brain tumors Damage to the brain from an injuryFluid collecting around the brain ( hydrocephalus )Infection of the skull bones ( osteomyelitis )Loss of brain tissue Multiple sclerosis Stroke or transient ischemic attack ( TIA )Structural problems in the brain
How often can you have an MRI?
How Often Do I Need An MRI of My Brain? – Many experts debate how often an MRI scan of the brain, but many believe that having an MRI twice annually is safe. However, the number of MRI scans you may need depends on your situation, condition, and doctor’s recommendation.
How much does it cost to have an MRI scan privately UK?
Where are we located? Getting your MRI scan with us is easy and hassle-free. We’re based in the district of Harley Street with two locations for your convenience. How much does a private MRI scan cost? The national average for a standard MRI scan cost is £395, according to Private Healthcare UK,
We offer standard MRI scans from as little as £250, depending on the date and time you book. We ensure to remain affordable when the MRI scan is more complex. View our Live Prices Calendar for an idea of how our prices work. Have you been referred by a clinician? You can send us your referral and book an appointment online by clicking on the Book now button.
You can also call or email us to book. Select the best price and time for you by taking a look at our Live Pricing Calendar, where you can see our variable pricing structure and appointment availability. If you don’t have a referral, we can help you get one: Use our quick and easy referral service to get a trusted referral from one of our healthcare professionals.
- We operate 7 days a week, with referrals provided within one working day,
- Learn more on how to book,
- How to refer your patient for an MRI scan: The easiest way to refer for MRI is to log in or sign up to our online community, Connect,
- Here you can submit referrals, book patient appointments, view and download scan images and reports, and manage patient appointments.
You can also call us on 020 7042 1888 or email the referral to [email protected]. What is MRI? MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. We use a 1.5T scanner at our clinic on Wimpole Street and a 3T scanner at our second location on Dover Street. Our scanners are a tube-shaped magnet that is open at both ends, in a spacious room.
MRIs are safe and completely painless; they use a magnetic field and radio waves to help your doctor make a diagnosis by building up a detailed picture of the inside of your body. For more information see our blog on 1.5T vs 3T MRI machines. Many clinicians prefer MRI scans to other scan types because they provide a wealth of information without the involvement of radiation and can be used to investigate almost any part of the body.
We specialise in a wide range of area scanning. These include: Efficiency: The total time patients spend in our imaging centre during a single region MRI scan is up to an hour. This involves registering, meeting your Radiographer – when the process will be explained and questions can be asked – and the MRI being performed.
- Central location: We are in the heart of Central London, with two locations.
- You can find us on Wimpole Street, just a few minutes walk from Oxford Circus or Bond Street tube station, and also on Dover Street, a short 3-minute walk from Green Park Station.
- Recognition: We are also registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
A quality service: The quality of our MRI service is recognised by all major insurers including BUPA, AXA PPP and WPA. Rapid online results: Patients and their referrers can view and download the MRI images immediately after the patient finishes their scan on our secure online community, Connect.
- We also use IEP (The Image Exchange Portal).
- The Consultant Radiologists aim to upload reports to the referring clinician’s account within one working day.
- You can call us on 020 3481 6892 to get set up with an account.
- Alternatively, your login details are emailed to you automatically when we receive your first referral.
Consultant-led approach: All our exams are reported by our expert Consultant Radiologists. Each has their own interests and specialities, allowing us to assign scans to the most qualified Consultant for the region. Before your appointment Safety questionnaire: To make sure you are able to have the scan.
- For example, certain types of implants are not suitable for MRI.
- Confirmation: Once we’ve received your referral and you’ve been booked in for your MRI scan, you’ll receive a confirmation with all the details of your appointment.
- Advice: For a small number of scans, (depending on the region you’re having scanned), you may be asked not to eat or drink anything except water for up to six hours before your appointment.
The MRI scanner is a magnet, try to wear comfortable clothing with no metal at all, for example, a tracksuit, (so no zips, studs, wires etc.). When you arrive Check in: Please be advised that your arrival time is exactly when we expect you. Change for your appointment: You’ll be greeted by the Radiographer, who will show you to the changing room, where you can lock away your valuables and change into a gown if necessary.
Advice: To make sure you are able to have the scan. For example, certain types of implants are not suitable for MRI. During your appointment Scan time: You’ll then be taken through into the MRI room, where you’ll lie on the MRI table and be slid into the scanner. Once your scan starts: You’ll be given a hand-held call bell that you can squeeze at any time during the scan to talk to the Radiographer, who will be in regular contact to update you on the progress of the scan and will be able to see you from the control room.
We’ll support you: We will tell you how long you should expect to be in the centre before you arrive for your appointment. After your appointment After your scan: You can collect your valuables from the changing room, and that’s that! Your MRI scan images: Are uploaded to your account on our secure online community, Connect, immediately after the scan, and we aim to send reports, which are completed by one of our Consultant Radiologists, to your referring clinician via Connect within one working day.
How much does an MRI scan cost the NHS?
Table 3.
Resource use and costs | ||
---|---|---|
MRI examination cost, £ | 326.79 (157.92) | 128.96 (229.98) |
Equipment cost, £ | 1.99 (5.28) | 1.59 (5.70) |
Medication cost, £ | 3.43 (6.20) | 4.55 (7.90) |
Total NHS cost, £ | 1315.47 (1370.51) | 1021.46 (1178.65) |
Will a radiologist tell you if something is wrong?
Should I Be Worried About Getting A CT Scan? – A CT scan does not necessarily mean something serious is wrong with you – you should not be stressed or concerned about your results. During and after your scan, your radiologist will not tell you if something is wrong based on your images.
- If your radiologist notices something on your scan that requires emergency treatment, they will get you that treatment immediately.
- Your doctor will receive your CT scan results within 24 hours of your scan.
- They will need some time to interpret your results and call you to set up a follow-up appointment to explain your results and potentially create a treatment plan.
Getting any sort of medical imaging can be stressful. Asking questions ahead of time can help assuage that stress. Our team of trained professionals is ready and waiting to help answer your questions. At South Jersey Radiology, you and your comfort are our top priorities.
Greentree Office – Marlton, NJ Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ Voorhees Office – Voorhees Township, NJ Route 73 Office – Voorhees Township, NJ Washington Township Office – Sewell, NJ West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified, sub-specialized radiologists who read and interpret studies at SJRA, here,
How often are MRI reports wrong?
Radiologist Expertise – “Body MRI scans are highly complex. Whether it’s an abdominal MRI, pelvic MRI, chest MRI, or full body MRI – these types of scans require specific training and expertise to be read properly. In the field of radiology, this is called subspecialization.
- Ideally, every scan should be interpreted by the appropriate subspecialist – be that a breast imager, body imager, cardiac imager etc.
- But many imaging facilities and hospitals don’t have a full team of subspecialists.
- In such cases, subspecilaity scans, like a body MRI, may end up getting read by a generalist – a radiologist without subspecialty training.
This presents a high risk for cognitive error,” says Dr. Semelka. “These mistakes frequently lead to delayed or incorrect treatment plans. Cancers can be missed, resulting in patient death within a few months. Benign lesions may be misdiagnosed as cancer, resulting in unnecessary extra tests and surgery – which contains the risk of complications, including death.” There are many nuances in a body MRI scan.
- Experience in identifying how different diseases can appear in imaging is crucial to an accurate interpretation.
- Quite literally, it can be a matter of life and death for a patient.
- Getting a second opinion empowers patients with an opportunity to make sure their scans are interpreted by a subspecialist.
With DocPanel, for example, you can either select the radiologist yourself – or you can opt to have the company’s medical team select the best expert for you. Either way, there’s complete transparency. And patients can rest assured that a subspecialist is reading thier scans.
How long will a stroke show up on an MRI?
Will a stroke always show up on a CT? – A CT scan is excellent for ruling out a hemorrhagic stroke or other causes for a person’s symptoms, such as a tumor. However, a CT scan does not provide the same level of detail as an MRI. For example, a doctor cannot always see the site of an ischemic stroke on a CT scan.
- Also, in the first 6 hours after a stroke, it can be hard to confirm an ischemic stroke via CT.
- After an initial CT scan to rule out other causes of symptoms, a doctor may order an MRI to obtain more information.
- An MRI can show signs of a stroke years or even decades after the stroke happens.
- Sometimes, a person may not know they had a stroke until a long time afterward.
MRI is the most accurate way to view signs of stroke inside the brain, but a CT scan is often faster and more widely available. Medical professionals may use CT first in people with suspected stroke and MRI later on to get more detailed images.