Magnetic Resonance Imaging Preparations - Abdomen

• Metal: You will be asked before your MR exam if you have any metal in your body. Having metal in your body does not automatically disqualify you from having an MR exam. All patients are evaluated individually.
• Registration: Before arriving, you can print and fill out the MRI and MRI and Pregnancy forms, if applicable, on our Pre-Registration Questionnaire page. This should speed your registration process. 
• Written Order: If your doctor gave you an written order, please bring it with you.
• Medications: If you plan to take relaxation medication before your exam, it is our policy that you come with someone who can drive you home.
• Anesthesia: If you are having anesthesia, please read MRI and Anesthesia.
• Pacemakers and other implantable devices:
  • Please make sure to inform your technologist if you have a pacemaker or an implantable device.
  • Many of today's implantable devices are designed to allow a patient to have an MR exam.
  • In some cases, people with pacemakers, defibrillators or other electronic devices cannot have an MR scan.
  • If you have a pacemaker or other implantable devices, please make sure you bring detailed information for your device type and your leads. It is important for us to know which make and model you have.

Most MR procedures do not require advance preparation, but some do. Such as:

• If you are receiving an MRI for any part of your abdomen, including gall bladder, intestinal tract (enterography), kidneys, liver, pelvis, prostate, etc., it is likely you will have some preparation. Please see below.
• If you are receiving an MRI for your breasts, please see our breast MR page.
• If you are having an MR Angiogram of any part of your body, please view the preparation.
• If you are  having an MR Cardiac Stress Test, please view the preparation.
• If you are having an MR of the Penis and/or Scrotum, please view the preparation.

We offer several types of MRI abdomen and/or pelvis exams. Please make sure you are following the correct preparation below. If you are not sure which preparation to follow, please call us at 310-423-8000.

The types are:

• MRI Abdomen and Cholangiogram (gall bladder scan)
• MRI Abdomen and/or Pelvis with Elastography (liver scan)
• MRI Abdomen and/or Pelvis with Feraheme
• MRI Liver Spectroscopy
• MRI Abdomen and/or Pelvis with MRCP
• MRI Abdomen and/or Pelvis with Deluxe Screening
• Dynamic Pelvic MRI (see our separate MRI Defecography page.)
• Other MRI Abdomen and/or Pelvis (this is the most common)

The time estimates listed below are for your total time in the center. Your actual exam time will be shorter. At scheduling, you will be given your arrival time: you do not need to come before that time.

MR abdomen and Cholangiogram (approximate visit time: two hours)

• Do not eat or drink for 8 hours before your exam.

MRI abdomen with Elastography (approximate visit time: 1.5 hours)

• Do not eat or drink for 4 hours prior to your exam.
• Sips of water with medication are OK.

MRI abdomen and/or pelvis with Feraheme (approximate visit time: 2 hours)

• Do not eat or drink for 3 hours prior to your exam.
• Sips of water with medication are OK.

MRI Liver Spectroscopy (approximate visit time: 1.5 hours)

• Please have nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the start time of your exam.

MRI abdomen and/or pelvis with MRCP (approximate visit time: 2 to 2.5 hours)

• Please have nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours prior to the start time of your exam.

MRI abdomen and/or pelvis with Deluxe Screening (approximate visit time: 1.5 hours)

• Please have nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the start of your exam.

Dynamic pelvic MRI (please see our separate dynamic pelvic MRI page.)

Other MRI abdomen and/or pelvis (approximate visit time: two hours) - this is the most-common form of MRI for the abdomen

• Do not eat or drink for 3 hours before your exam.

MRI scan room at S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center

The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center provides a full range of advanced imaging, both radiology and cardiology, as well as interventional radiology and interventional tumor (oncology) treatments to the greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Encino, Mid-Cities, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Studio City, Toluca Lake and West Hollywood.