Yes, MRI scans are very safe!

MRI imaging does not involve radiation exposure. Patients with specific medical devices and implants can not get an MRI. Your radiographer will ask you about your implants and inform you about implants and devices before your scan.

There are no known side effects related to MRI scans.

The area of the body being scanned will be positioned in the middle of the magnet.

A two-way system allows for communication between you and the radiographer at all times.

During the actual imaging, you need to lie very still for some time while the machine takes the images. Any movement may cause inaccuracies and would need to be repeated. You will be asked to hold your breath for up to 30 seconds for the best results.

You will hear a loud intermittent banging noise from the machine. Earplugs or headphones are provided to help minimize the noise.

You will also have a panic button to alert the radiographer of any discomfort you may experience at any point during the exam.

Some MRI scans require an injection of intravenous MRI contrast or dye for better imaging and diagnosis.

No, you will not feel any pain during the MRI scan. You might experience some discomfort while you remain motionless for a successful scan.

No, this is not possible. Almost any part of the body can be scanned, but scans are limited to a specific area.

Yes, there are limits. The table weight limit is 250kg with a maximum width of 70cm.

Depending on the type of exam you will receive, the actual procedure will typically take 15- 30 minutes.

Exam time may vary depending on the nature of your study. If oral contrast is required, about 45-60 minutes is needed for the contrast to move through your digestive tract.

For some CT Scans, a dye or contrast is injected into a vein. This contrast helps distinguish normal tissues from abnormal tissues or blood vessels from other structures like lymph nodes.

CT contrast material scan poses a risk of an allergic reaction. If you’ve reacted to contrast or iodine in the past, be sure to let your doctor/radiologist/radiographer know beforehand.

You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for your exam. We may provide you with a prescription for cortisone/steroids to counteract any allergic reactions.

You will also need someone to accompany you after your procedure due to the associated drowsiness of this medication. If you are alone, the procedure might have to be rescheduled until you find someone to accompany you.

You are assisted and positioned on a table that slides into the center of the large, doughnut-shaped CT machine.

When the procedure starts, you must remain very still while the machine takes images. The radiographer will tell you when to hold your breath and exhale during the scan for the best image quality.

An Intravenous contrast dye helps define structures on the scan. When applied, you may feel warm and flushed and get a metallic taste in your mouth. These sensations typically disappear after a few minutes.

After a CT exam, you can return to your regular diet and activities.

CT scanning causes no pain.

If you are scheduled for an oral contrast CT scan, you will need to arrive one hour before the scan time to allow enough time for the contrast dye to move through the body.

No, they are not allowed.

CT scanners use radiation,  and for safety purposes, only the patient requiring the scan is allowed in the room.

Parents will be allowed in the CT room with their child until the test begins and possibly during the scan. You will be provided with a lead protection apron to wear and protect you against radiation.

You can wait in areas available while the patient is busy.

After your procedure, the images are reviewed by one of our radiologists. The final report will then be sent to your doctor or specialist, usually within hours of the scan.

Please remember to bring along all your previous imaging and radiology reports.

Yes, there are limits, the table weight limit is 300kg with a maximum width of 70cm.

A CT scan is a special X-ray examination, which allows us to take and review detailed images of the body. In the case of a CT Coronary Angiography scan, we scan and take pictures of your heart and your coronary arteries.

This allows us to see any narrowing or blockage of the arteries around your heart. 3D and angiogram-like representations can be created from the data obtained using sophisticated computers and post-processing software.

The main advantage of CT Coronary Angiography is that you can go home shortly after the procedure. It is very quick, non-invasive and safe. It is cost-effective and avoids hospital admission.

Technical Process:

Our radiographer will ask you to lie on a special bed. ECG leads will be placed on your chest so that we can synchronise the scanner with your heartbeat. We can then trigger the scanner to take a picture at a certain point of your heartbeat.

This allows us to obtain high quality images of your heart. The bed moves through the scanner and pictures of your heart and arteries are taken.

So that we can see your heart and arteries more clearly we will give you an injection of X-ray contrast (dye) into a vein in your arm. The dye travels through your veins to your heart and “highlights” your heart when we take the scan. It is harmless and will pass out of your system in due course.

Pre-scan Examination:

If your heart is beating quickly, it can be difficult for us to get a clear picture. We will therefore check your heart rate when you first arrive in the department and, if it is faster than the ideal rate, may give you some medication to slow it down. The medication can take up to an hour to take effect. Once your heart rate is slower we will perform the scan.

If you can, please avoid driving or cycling to or from your appointment as this medication can make you drowsy. It is also a good idea to ask someone to come with you to the appointment if you can.

Expect to spend 1-2 hours at your appointment.

The CT scan itself should only take around 15 minutes in the scan room. At some point during the scan, we’ll ask you to hold your breath — this will be for no more than 15 seconds. This again helps us to get a clear picture of your heart — when you breathe, your body moves, and so can blur the image that we take.

We will practice the breath hold with you before the scan, and go through exactly what you should expect during the procedure.

• Please avoid tea and coffee for 12 hours before the scan. These both contain caffeine, which can speed up your heart rate. Some soft, fizzy drinks such as cola also contain caffeine, so you should avoid these also.
• Please do not eat 3-4 hours before the exam. Drink plenty of fluids before and after the examination.
• If you are asthmatic, bring your inhalers with you.
• If you are taking Cialis, Viagra or Levitra, do not take this medication in the 36 hours prior to your scan.
• Let us know if you have had a previous reaction to contrast (x-ray dye).
• After your scan you will be able to return to your normal daily routine.

Diabetic patients:

If you are diabetic please continue with your normal routine, with the exception of products containing caffeine. If you are on insulin, please bring this with you. If you are taking a medication called metformin, please let us know when you come for your scan.

Female patients:

You should NOT have a CT scan if you think you may be pregnant.

Please tell us before the scan if you:

• Think you may be pregnant
• And breastfeeding

This is a non-contrast scan, i.e. no dye is used. Coronary calcium scoring is a well-validated technique to rapidly see whether there is a build-up of ‘plaque’ in the coronary arteries, which is determined by the amount of calcium present.

It does not tell us about the degree of any narrowing of the arteries or the ‘diffuseness’ of coronary disease. It is a risk-stratification test, which is very helpful to determine the need for preventative treatment like cholesterol lowering drugs.

It is, now, a very rapid, low-radiation test.

As with many medical imaging procedures CT angiography utilizes X-rays as well as a contrast injection to produce images. We therefore require a referral from a medical practitioner who will also advise you whether the study is appropriate for you.

The results of the test will be then forwarded to your GP or specialist who then will explain results and initiate any management if required.

Please talk to our bookings staff, which will give you detailed information about how to prepare for the examination.

When your scan is completed, the radiographer will produce your images from the volume of data obtained. One of our radiologists specialised in cardiac imaging will then interpret the images obtained. Depending on the complexity of the findings, the time taken for analysis may vary. The results will then be forwarded to your doctor.

Please advise our radiographer about your follow-up appointment with your referring physician.

Cardiac MRI is performed to help your doctor or specialist detect, and, or monitor cardiac disease by:

• Tissue damage from a heart attack
• Plan treatment for cardiovascular disorders.
• Monitor the progress of certain disorders over time.
• Reduced blood flow in the heart muscle to help determine whether heart artery blockages are the cause of your chest pain (angina)
• Problems in the aorta, the heart’s main artery, such as a tear, aneurysm (bulge), or narrowing
• Diseases of the pericardium (outer lining of the heart muscle), evaluating the anatomy and function of the heart chambers, heart valves, size of and blood flow through major vessels, and the surrounding structures.
• Heart muscle diseases, such as heart failure or enlargement of the heart, infections, inflammatory conditions, and abnormal growths or cancerous tumors
• Heart valve disorders, such as regurgitation.
• Congenital heart problems and the effects of surgical repair.

MRI is safe and painless. If you have any health issues, allergies, asthma, or recently had surgery, please inform the radiographer.

Women should always tell their doctor and technologist if there is a chance that they are pregnant or if they are breastfeeding.

Patients with any type of metal device inside the body should not have an MRI unless the device is certified as MRI safe.

Please inform the radiographer of any of the following devices:

• Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
• Inner ear (cochlear) implants
• Neuro-muscular stimulators, used for pain management or muscle rehabilitation
• Implanted drug infusion pumps
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Brain aneurysm clips that are not approved for MRI
• Some dental implants (check with your dentist to make sure they are not magnetic)
• You should avoid MRI if you have metal fragments in your body. Metal fragments in the eyes can be especially dangerous because the magnet may move the metal, causing eye damage or blindness.
• For some MRIs, a special contrast dye (without iodine) may be used.

Patients with pacemakers:

In the past, MRI scans for patients with pacemakers were avoided. Unlike stents and valves which are safe, pacemakers contain electronics and batteries that can be affected by a strong magnet, like an MRI machine.

At the time of implant, your team will inform you if you can have an MRI scan, based on your pacemaker specification.

Some pacemakers are MRI conditional devices, which means they are specifically built for save MRI scanning.

We always follow strict protocol, but people with these pacemakers should have the least problems getting a scan. We usually wait 6 weeks after the pacemaker was implanted.

If you are unsure, you can find out if your device is “MRI conditional” from the following places:

1. Check your pacemaker registration card. The latest guidelines advise doctors to mention this on the card.
2. If you are unsure, call your device manufacturer directly.

MRI scan, they are not allowed in the exam room.  Metal and electronic items can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit. They may cause burns or become harmful projectiles within the MRI scanner room.

Mobile phones, electronic watches, and tracking devices are not allowed in the exam room.

Remove eyeglasses, body piercing, and artificial limbs.

Don’t bring your credit or debit cards into the MRI room, it might be erased or damage the magnetic strip on the cards.

Inform the radiographer or radiologist about any shrapnel, bullets, or other metal that may be present in your body. Foreign bodies near and especially lodged in the eyes are very important because they may move or heat up during the scan and can cause damage.

If you have any implants or clips in your body, have your doctor write a note to indicate if they are safe for MRI.

Positioned in a supine (face down) position on a moveable exam table, with straps and bolsters to help you stay still and maintain your position.

The specially designed platform has openings to accommodate your breasts and allows imaging without compression.

The table slides into the MRI machine, it is important to remain very still throughout the exam.

The radiographer will lead the exam from the computer inside the MRI control room.

The radiographer will insert an intravenous catheter (IV line) into a vein in your hand or arm to inject the contrast material. More images are taken during or following the injection.

When the exam is complete, one of our radiologists reviews the images while you wait in case more imaging is needed.

Your IV line will be removed once the exam is complete.

The imaging session lasts 30-60minutes, the examination is completed within 90 minutes.

An MR spectroscopy, which provides additional information on the chemicals present in the body’s cells, may also be performed during the MRI exam – this may add approximately 15 minutes to the total exam time.

You can go back to your normal activities right away.

If you had a sedative, you need to remain at the MRI center until the effects of the sedative wear off. You will need someone to drive you home because of some persistent drowsiness.

The radiologist will examine the images and send your doctor a copy of the report. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the test results.

Yes, MRI scans are very safe!

MRI imaging does not involve radiation exposure. Patients with specific medical devices and implants can not get an MRI. Your radiographer will ask you about your implants and inform you about implants and devices before your scan.

There are no known side effects related to MRI scans.

It is a procedure that allows doctors to see inside your colon (also referred to as the large intestine), used to look for small growths called polyps and check for colon or rectal cancer.

Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a specialist uses a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on one end, called a colonoscope or scope, to look inside your rectum and colon.

Virtual Colonoscopy is an X-ray test, takes less time and does not require a doctor to insert a scope into the entire length of your colon. Unlike colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy does not require sedation or anesthesia

Please inform us of the following before your scan:

• Any allergies or adverse reactions to medications.
• If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
• If you are breastfeeding.
• If you have heart, liver, or kidney disease.
• If you had prior colon surgery.

It is crucial to follow the preparation instructions for your virtual colonoscopy to be successful.

CT Colonography takes about 15 minutes.

First, the colon is filled with carbon dioxide or air through a tube introduced into the rectum.

The patient rolls over into several different positions.

Scans in both prone (face down) and supine (laying down on your back) positions of the colon are taken.

These images are interpreted by one of our radiologists.

After a virtual colonoscopy, you can expect to feel cramping or bloating during the first hour after the test.

You will be able to resume your regular activities and return to a normal diet right after the test.

After the test, a radiologist looks at the images and sends a report to your doctor.

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of your breasts. It is the best screening tool for early detection of breast cancer when the chances of survival are highest. 

A mammogram can detect signs of breast cancer very early when it is too small to feel.

Early detection of breast cancer not only helps provide women with more treatment options but also increases the possibility of a favorable prognosis.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women of all races, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 35 in South Africa.

In a 2D mammogram, two views (vertical and horizontal) are taken of each breast.

3D Mammography uses a series of images taken as the machine moves in an arc over the breast, which are digitally combined to create a 3D image.  The radiologist can manipulate and zoom in on these images to better visualize areas of interest. This allows the radiologist to “see around” structures that may otherwise obscure problem areas.

The level of radiation used in this examination is low; therefore, the risk of cell damage is minimal. Although repeated exposure to X-rays increases the risk of developing cancer, the benefits of early detection outweigh this risk.

If you are or may be pregnant, inform your doctor or the radiographer performing the test, as mammograms are not done routinely in pregnant women due to concerns of fetal radiation exposure.

Most medical aids cover the cost of mammograms. Please inquire with your medical aid provider, as most options, even hospital plans, have screening and preventative benefits.

Yes, you do need a referral from your doctor. Radiology examinations are not, as a rule, funded by your medical scheme if performed without a doctor’s referral letter.

Your results are then sent to your GP or specialist who will explain and initiate any management if required.

• Do not use deodorant, perfume, powders, lotions, or ointments under your arms or on your breasts on the day of your mammogram.
• Remove all jewelry from your neck and chest area.
• Wear a two-piece outfit since you will undress from the waist up for the exam.
• Bring any previous X-ray (and ultrasound) images of your breasts with you.
• Inform the technician beforehand if you had any breast surgery in the past (e.g., a breast biopsy, breast implant surgery, or breast reduction surgery) as scar tissue from previous surgery can affect the test results.
• If you are currently breastfeeding, please inform the technician.
• If you experience breast tenderness before your menstrual period, try to schedule the test for a time when your breasts are not tender.
• Disclose all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking.
• Also, tell them about any medication allergies and medical conditions that you may have.

A specially-trained radiographer will perform your mammogram.

You will need to undress and stand next to the X-ray machine.

Two flat surfaces, or plates, are lowered and compress each breast for a few seconds. This compression is necessary to produce the best pictures using the lowest amount of radiation possible.

Sometimes, additional tests are needed to examine mammogram findings:

• Additional mammogram views, called magnification or compression views
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast MRI exam

There is almost no chance that the pressure placed on the implant during the mammography will cause a rupture or break.

Some women find the pressure of the plates on their breasts to be uncomfortable or even somewhat painful.

Timing your mammogram when your breasts are not tender is important. In premenopausal women, this is usually one week after your menstrual period.

If you experience discomfort or pain, remember that each X-ray takes just a few moments and could save your life.

A mammogram takes about 10 minutes.

After the images are reviewed by one of our radiologists, a report is sent to your doctor or specialist, usually within hours of the completion of the scan.

All women should have a mammogram annually, beginning at age 40.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, your doctor or specialist may recommend earlier or more frequent tests.

The primary use of breast ultrasound is to help diagnose breast abnormalities (lumps) detected by your doctor during a physical exam and to characterize potential abnormalities seen on Mammography or Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Ultrasound imaging can help to determine if an abnormality is solid (which may be either a non-cancerous lump of tissue or a cancerous tumor), fluid-filled (such as a benign cyst), or both cystic and solid.

Doppler ultrasound assesses blood supply in breast lesions.

Ultrasound provides real-time images.  When these images reveal abnormalities, your doctor may choose to perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy.

What are the limitations of Ultrasound Imaging of the Breast?

Ultrasound is one of the tools used in breast imaging, but it does not replace your annual mammography.

Calcifications seen on a mammogram are not visible on ultrasound. Some early breast cancers only show up as calcifications on a mammogram.

MRI findings are not visible with ultrasound.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive test used to diagnose various medical conditions.

MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of internal structures. MRI does not use radiation (X-rays).

Detailed MRI allows doctors to examine and diagnose abnormalities of the breasts.

The images can be reviewed on a computer monitor, sent electronically, printed, copied to a CD, or uploaded to a digital cloud server.

MRI of the breast offers valuable information about many different breast conditions that are not visible with other imaging modalities, such as mammography or ultrasound.

MRI of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging, but rather a supplemental tool that has many important uses, including:

• Screening in women at high risk for breast cancer
• Determining the extent of cancer after a new diagnosis of breast cancer
• Further evaluating hard-to-assess abnormalities seen on mammography
• Evaluating lumpectomy sites in the years following breast cancer treatment. MRI can help determine whether the change is normal maturation of the scar or a recurrence of cancer.
• Following chemotherapy treatment in patients, MRI is often used to monitor how well the chemotherapy is working and reevaluate the amount of tumor present before the surgery.
• Evaluating breast implants, MRI is the best test for determining whether silicone implants have ruptured.

Please bring along all your previous imaging and radiology reports.

You can follow your usual diet and wear any clothing as you will change into a gown for the procedure.

Metal and electronic items can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, and are not allowed in the exam room. These items may cause burns or become harmful projectiles within the MRI scanner room.

These items include:

• Jewelry, watches, credit cards, and hearing aids, all of which can be damaged
• Pins, hairpins, metal zippers, and similar metallic items, which can distort MRI images
• Removable dental work
• Pens, pocket knives, and eyeglasses
• Body piercings
• Mobile phones, electronic watches, and tracking devices.

In most cases, an MRI exam is safe for patients with metal implants, except for a few types. People with the following implants may not be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area without first being evaluated for safety:

• Some cochlear (ear) implants
• Some types of clips used for brain aneurysms
• Some types of metal coils placed within blood vessels
• Some older cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers

You will be positioned on a moveable exam table. Straps and sponges may be used to help you stay still and maintain your position.

For an MRI of the breast, you will lie face down on a platform specially designed for the procedure. The platform has openings to accommodate your breasts and allow them to be imaged without compression.

The electronics needed to capture the MRI image are actually built into the platform. You will be placed into the magnet of the MRI unit. The radiographer will perform the exam while working at a computer outside of the room.

It is important to remain very still throughout the exam.  A Doctor or radiographer will insert an intravenous catheter (IV line) into a vein in your hand or arm that will be used to inject the contrast material. More images will be taken during and/or following the injection.

When the exam is complete, you may be asked to wait while the radiologist checks the images, in case more are needed.

Your IV line will be removed after the exam is over.

The imaging session lasts about 30-60minutes, and the total examination is usually completed within an hour and a half.

MR spectroscopy, which provides additional information on the chemicals present in the body’s cells, may also be performed during the MRI exam. This may add about 15minutes to the total exam time.

Who interprets my results and how do I get them?

One of our radiologists will analyze the images, he/she will send a signed report to your referring doctor or specialist, who will then share the results with you.

Follow-up exams may be needed, if so your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a potential abnormality needs further evaluation with additional views or a special imaging technique.

Follow-up exams are the best way to see if treatment is successful and if an abnormality is stable or has changed.

It is a non-invasive X-ray exam of your pelvic floor and muscles to see what happens at various stages of defecation and provide insight into rectal function.

Used to determine the cause of fecal incontinence, constipation, and other conditions like pelvic organ prolapsed that may interfere with a person’s ability to pass stool.

When making your booking, a detailed information leaflet is provided to explain the procedure in an easily understandable way.

You should take your regular medications with small sips of water at least 2 hours before the study. Defecography is a technique in which a barium contrast medium is injected into your rectum after the radiologist performs a rectal examination. The barium is visible within the rectum on X-Rays.

Remember not to eat or drink anything 2 hours before your exam.

MRI Defecogram exams can be done on an outpatient basis.

For the procedure, barium paste is slowly injected into the rectum until full. Filling it stimulates the nerves to empty the bowel as it does under normal conditions.

You are then asked to sit on a special toilet to evacuate the paste. You will be instructed to squeeze and strain as you expel the paste entirely or as much as you can. While this is happening, either a series of X-rays or an X-ray video is taken.

Remember not to eat or drink anything 2 hours before your exam.

It is usually completed in 30-60 minutes.

You may not receive your results on the same day, as it requires a specialist radiologist to interpret the scan and make a detailed report.

Most MRI exams are painless.

Some patients feel mild bloating or cramping when the substance is inserted.

You may resume your usual activities and normal diet immediately after the exam.

An MRI uses strong magnetic fields to create an image of the prostate and the surrounding tissues. These images allow the radiologists to examine the prostate gland.

A Prostate MRI is beneficial in detecting, staging, and surveillance of prostate cancer or other related diseases.

To ensure that your Prostate MRI (Pelvic MRI) exam is a success, you need to fast (no liquids or food) for 4 hours before the test. A full bladder is required. So drink 2-4glases of water 30min before the MRI.

Before the procedure please try to flatulate(pass gas), as bowel air makes artifacts on your MRI images.

If you have diabetes, you may follow your regular daily routine and take food and medications as usual.

You will be asked to change into a hospital gown.

You will be asked if you have any implants that could be attracted to the magnet, for example, if you have a pacemaker.

Personal items, like your watch and wallet, are not allowed inside the MRI room.

Cards, phones, and other devices can be erased and damaged by the MRI’s magnet, do leave these outside the MRI room.

Jewelry, piercings, and other metal objects need to be removed or left at home.

If you had a prostate biopsy, the MRI examination should take place 6 weeks after the biopsy.

You will lie on your back on the MRI table, a pillow will be placed under your knees for comfort.

A coil/frame is placed over your pelvis, the table will move inside the MRI (shaped like a donut) with your feet first.

The radiographer might give you an injection of contrast material during the scan. This contrast material is like a dye which helps them see the prostate and other organs more clearly on the scan.

Please inform the radiographer of any known allergies you might have.

The procedure takes 40-60 minutes, during which multiple images are taken.

When will I get my results?

One of our radiologists will analyze the images. He/she will send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician, who will share and discuss the results with you.

Cochlear implantation is an approved treatment to treat severe to profound hearing loss. Imaging before cochlear implant surgery is essential in decision making and assessing the temporal bone anatomy for surgery.

We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of high-resolution CT scans (CBCT) and MRI of the temporal bone in patients for cochlear implantation compared to surgical results. MRI can diagnose soft tissue problems in the middle ear. CBCT of the temporal bone can evaluate gross bony alterations and ossification of the cochlea.

An MRI scan uses strong magnetic fields for imaging. This magnetic force pulls on the small magnet in the cochlear implant that can cause pain, discomfort, and even damage to the implant.