Bones and Joints MRI is very sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease or aging. The image at right is of a knee as viewed from the side. Clear pictures such as these often provide information not available through other medical testing and may actually eliminate the need for exploratory surgery. MRI is very safe. There are no health risks associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves used by the machine.
Any metallic substance can affect the quality of the diagnostic images.
It can also cause discomfort or injury to you when placed in the magnetic field, and may exclude you from the exam. Also, please be sure to tell us if you are pregnant. The American College of Radiology recommends that MRI scanning not be done in the first trimester of pregnancy. After the first trimester, there is no definitive research indicating that MRI is contraindicated in pregnancy. However, you will need to obtain a written order from your gynecologist for the test to be performed.