1/29/10
Common Procedures
Description
Contrast A special contrast material made with ______ is
Material used with [the MRI/
]. This material is able
to enhance the view of the [arteries/______].
DEXA
MRI
Risk
Known side effects of the contrast
material are ___________.
There may be some discomfort when the
Prior to the start of [the MRI/
], a needle
needle is placed into your vein. If you
connected to a plastic tube will be placed into
feel a constant pressure where the IV
your arm vein to allow the contrast material to be needle is, or burning persists for more
given to you without removing you from the
than 30 seconds or so, let the technician
MRI machine. The MRI technologist can inject
know immediately. There may also be
the material from behind the window and will
bruising and slight bleeding from the
tell you when the material is being injected into
needle site, but these are normally very
your arm.
mild.
DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry)
Each DEXA scan will expose you to a
scans are the most commonly used test to
very small amount of radiation, which is
measure bone density. This is a non-invasive,
much less than most routine x-ray
simple x-ray procedure. It requires that you lie
procedures. Exposure to radiation can
quietly on a table.
increase one’s risk of developing cancer.
The amount of radiation to which you
will be exposed during a DEXA scan is
so small that the precise risk is
unknown.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a nonThere is little space inside the scanner,
invasive method of looking inside the body.
which causes anxiety and discomfort for
Instead of x-rays, the MRI scanner uses a strong patients who fear enclosed spaces.
magnet with radio transmitter and receiver to
make pictures of different areas of the body. In
There are no known risks from the MRI
this experimental project, you will have an MRI scanner, since it does not expose a
of ______________.
patient to radiation. However, the fact
The MRI scanner is a small, tunnel-like machine that a strong magnet is used to produce
in which a patient will be required to lie still for
pictures does mean that patients who
a long period of time. The total scan time is
have metal objects in their body will not
about _______ minutes/hours.
be able to have the MRI. Examples of
In addition to this possible discomfort, the MRI
such metal objects include pacemakers,
scanner produces a rapid, loud thumping noise
metal implants, surgical clips, and metal
throughout the MRI examination. To shut out
fragments. Before you are allowed to
some of the noise, you will be given earplugs. A have an MRI examination, you will be
technician will be present at all times during the
asked about whether or not any of these
examination to communicate with you about
apply to you.
how you are feeling.