Some of the first MRI scans in the world were carried out at Aberdeen University,the first patient was scanned in 1980. Aberdeen University continues to research and develop MRI technology. If you are interested, you can read about the technical details of the scanners at Foresterhill on the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre website.
BUPA produce a good factsheet explaining what happens when you have an MRI, the NHS Choices website has information on MRI scans and you can also read the NHS Direct information – MRI Scan – online. Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital website has information on MRI written for children. An MRI can be used to study lots of different diseases, having an MRI scan does not mean you have cancer, it can also be used to look at the heart, the brain and your bones and joints.
An MRI scan doesn’t hurt, you lie on a table but no part of the scanner touches you. The table is moved into a short circular tunnel (the magnet). There’s not much to look at and it is quite a small space, you’ll soon find out how your socks feel inside your washing machine! You aren’t supposed to move during the scan as it makes the images blurry and as soon as you are told to lie still you’ll discover itches you didn’t know you had. It is noisy, mostly a loud banging, hammering, drilling sound that lasts about 5 minutes and then it will be quiet for a bit before starting up again. This is normal and a scan can last from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. You can listen to the sound of an MRI machine on the Royal College of Radiologists website.
If you would like to learn more about the science behind MRI scanners then visit the Wellcome Trust Channel on YouTube and watch MRI – Deciphering Inner Space, they’ve also produced a video called Steve Gets a Brain Scan, which describes how one of their staff felt when he had an MRI done.
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