MRI of the small pelvis with and without contrast: preparation, what shows

Today, there are many different diagnostic methods that are quite effective in detecting a particular disease, and can give almost all the necessary information about the patient's condition to the attending physician. Nevertheless, they all have a number of advantages and disadvantages, or they can be applied depending on the situation. Particularly in demand various diagnostic procedures in urology and gynecology. One of the informative methods that will always help to establish an accurate diagnosis is the  pelvic floor, widely used for diagnostic purposes in a variety of diseases. Today, it has become one of the most common methods that are widely used in many areas of medical activity.

This is a very convenient method, because it allows you to visualize various pathologies, makes it possible to assess the severity and level of damage to various structures of the human body. Its possibilities, of course, are not unlimited, but nevertheless, it is wide enough. Using this method, you can get detailed images of internal organs, consider the necessary foreshortening of a particular pathology. It is important to know the location and structure of tissues, to detect the localization of individual structures, including foreign ones, pathological ones. It allows to diagnose a wide variety of conditions and diseases.

How long does an MRI of a small pelvis last?

On average, the procedure takes no more than an hour. It usually takes 20 minutes to prepare for the study, 40 minutes of the study itself. It should be noted that the need for additional measures increases the duration of the procedure. For example, if anesthesia, sedation, is used during the examination, the procedure will last a little longer. Contrast research also takes longer.

When is it better to do an MRI of a small pelvis?

Usually, the doctor himself chooses the optimal time when it is advisable to conduct a study and assign it on a certain day. At the same time he warns in advance what preparatory measures should be taken in this case.

Usually MRI makes it necessary, if necessary, to clarify the diagnosis, especially if other methods are ineffective, or showed abnormalities that could not be fully identified. Almost always this procedure is carried out in the event that there is a suspicion of an oncological process. It is very easy to visually separate the healthy tissue from the pathological. They look different in the spectrum of MRI. Also often this method is used in forensic medical examination, as it makes it possible to identify chronic injuries and traces of injuries, scars, internal hematomas. The procedure is very expensive, therefore, not always and not everyone has the opportunity to conduct it. Most often, the presence of tumors is the main reason for such a procedure. They are also often prescribed for infertility counseling, in pregnancy planning, IVF. It gives a lot of information in this area and is considered a much more effective method than many others, including ultrasound. This procedure is more effective than a set of procedures that were used earlier for diagnosis

Preparation

Preparation lasts not for long and consists in observance of a diet for 2-3 days prior to carrying out of research. Be sure to stop taking any substances that cause increased formation of gases. In emergency cases, a survey can be conducted without prior preparation. In order to enhance the possibility of visualization, image clarity, apply contrast. This is necessary in order to identify tumors, as it allows to differentiate normal tissues from pathological ones.

Techniques for conducting

It allows to visualize various inflammatory processes, tumors, traumas. The main advantage is that with the help of this method it is possible to detect tumors of any genesis and stage, bleeding and bruises in a timely manner, which is very important for the proper diagnosis and selection of treatment. Due to the fact that the study is quite expensive, many clinics use it only if there is a suspicion of cancer.

Another distinguishing feature of this method is the ability to detect chronic hematomas and lesions. This property is often used in forensic medicine. With insufficient visualization, you can additionally enter a contrast, which will give an opportunity to explore the structure of organs in detail, to reveal even minimal morphological changes.

It is used to study the small pelvis of women, men with suspected various diseases. For women it is almost always used in the preparation of IVF, pregnancy planning. Be sure to apply for pain, injuries, injuries, inflammation, tumors in the pelvic area. It is an indispensable method in preparation for operations (during their planning).

Such a study can also be conducted during pregnancy to discover the causes of premature birth and to find ways to prevent such a development. You can not spend until the second trimester.

During the procedure, women are examined the bladder, uterus and its appendages (ovaries and fallopian tubes), the vagina, the anterior space. In men, the bladder, the scrotum, the prostate, the rectum, the vas deferens, the seminal vesicles are examined. In both sexes it is possible to detect tumors, developmental abnormalities, inflammatory processes, hydrocele, varicocele.

MRI of a small basin with strengthening

Reinforcement may be required if there is a suspicion of severe inflammation or malignant growth. Strengthening acts as a contrast, which visualizes well and separates pathological processes and tissues from the norm. At the same time, the magnetic field is characterized by high intensity, which makes it possible to take high quality photographs. But sometimes even this is not enough to clearly consider all the details and features of the pathological process. Then they resort to the use of amplification, or contrast. The essence of its application is that the contrast medium has the ability to accumulate in altered tissues, without changing their structure and state. It becomes much easier for the reading system to catch such pathological tissues and visualize them by the signal coming from them. It is also possible to clearly identify the boundaries of pathology, outline the area of their localization. This is the reason for confirming or refuting the diagnosis. Similarly, it is possible to detect metastases in the development of a tumor malignant process. For example, any, even distant metastasis also implies a modification of tissue, its transformation. At the same time, contrast is capable of accumulation in such a tissue, which perfectly visualizes it against the background of other, intact tissues, which are not capable of assimilating the contrast medium inside themselves.

MRI of the small pelvis without contrast

MRI is performed without contrast in the absence of suspicion of cancer. Preliminary preparation is not required, but it is better to stop taking food and water several hours before the study. Immediately before the procedure, the doctor must take off all the metal products, change into special clothes. Then the patient lays down on the mobile table.

Above the area under investigation, special surface coils are placed. The patient is usually fixed by means of special straps that help to maintain immobility. Then the retractable table with the patient is pushed into the tomograph chamber. In some cases, soundproof headphones are used, which eliminate the discomfort resulting from noise from the device.

Then the specialist leaves the room, and the connection is maintained through a special device - the speaker. The patient must remain completely immobile during the study, as this affects the result, the effectiveness of the pictures. In some cases, the patient is asked to hold his breath. Usually, nothing more is needed from the patient. On average, the study lasts for an hour. After this, the table is pushed out, the patient is unfastened. The last step is to decipher the results. Decryption is carried out by specially trained specialists. The result is given on hands in 1-2 hours.

MRI of a small pelvis with anesthesia

The study can be conducted under anesthesia. The main requirement for the research is the need to maintain immobility. For various reasons, this condition can not always be fulfilled. If it is impossible to provide immobility for a long time (from 30 to 90 minutes), anesthesia is used. Often used in children, people with increased excitability of the nervous system, as well as with various diseases of the spine, limbs, joints and circulatory system.

MRI of the pelvis for fat people

The procedure is often necessary for full people, because they are the most susceptible to various diseases and need to be diagnosed.

Specially, there is an open-type MRI device that does not require immersion in a closed chamber. You can conduct research for a person whose body weight does not exceed 120 kilograms, which could not be done earlier. Also there are some specialized clinics that specialize in conducting research for complete people, using closed devices with special parameters.

MRI of the small pelvis with monthly

During the period of menstruation, the study is not conducted. This is due to the fact that the organs of a small masse at this time carried out the maximum flow of blood. As a result, the possibility of accurate diagnosis is sharply reduced. The optimal period for the study is the 7-10 day cycle. During this period, you can get the most reliable results.

MRI of the pelvis during pregnancy

If there is a threat to the life of the mother, diagnosis by this method is possible. In this case, tomography without contrast is acceptable. Also, the study is conducted with the threat of premature birth, other pathologies to find out the cause, but only from the second trimester.

Theoretically, the magnetic field can affect the fetus, but does not harm the already sporting fetus. If contrast is to be used, it is necessary to talk about pregnancy to the treating doctor, since some types of marker can be dangerous for the unborn child.

MRI of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis

Today, a lot of tools are known that allow visualizing the main pathological structures in the pelvic area and abdominal organs. All of them have their pros and cons. Can be used in a particular situation, depending on the equipment, the technical capabilities of the institution, as well as the range of information that must be obtained during the study. In most cases, if there is such a possibility, doctors resort to MRI methods. This is due to the fact that by doing just one study, you can identify a huge number of pathologies. In addition, the load on the body is minimal. Contra-indications such procedure practically does not have. The method is characterized by accuracy, the results obtained are always reliable, and are almost never subject to doubt, so the need for additional research is extremely rare. The main advantage of this method lies in the high reliability of the results obtained.

In addition, a significant advantage of the method is its harmlessness. So, the method does not affect either healthy or pathological tissues. But it has certain contraindications - it can not be used by people who have metal structures in their bodies, which is understandable and logical, since a reaction arises between the magnetic field and the metal. As a result, not only damage to the structure itself, but also damage to surrounding tissues, organs. Such damage can sometimes be life-threatening. For example, various metal pins and structures inserted into vessels, joints, cavities of organs, under the action of a magnetic field can move, move. Undoubtedly, this will lead to unpredictable consequences: bleeding, vascular rupture, displacement of the focus of pathology. If a person has pacemakers, or other artificial devices, designs, they can fail under the influence of a magnetic field. As a result, they either cease to function, which is already a threat to human life, or they function incorrectly, as a result of which any failure can occur.

As for other types of radiation, the device is considered safe, since it does not inherent radiation radiation. Some experts, researchers consider it so safe that they consider it quite permissible to conduct a study for pregnant women, if its condition requires it. However, the question of the advisability of using such a procedure for pregnant women is still open, as there are still no reliable and exhaustive studies that make it possible to comprehensively assess both the immediate and remote consequences of the action of the magnetic field on the fetus.

Usually this procedure for the study of pelvic organs is used in the event that other procedures are ineffective, uninformative. If there is a suspicion of oncology, the procedure is carried out immediately, without postponing the diagnosis. In this case, it is better to immediately  mrt the small pelvis, which will reveal the tumor at an early stage and begin treatment as early as possible, which will significantly increase the chances of recovery.