Some patients may need an injection to enhance the images, usually in parts of the body which have poor natural contrast.
In most patients the injection is given in the vein in your elbow (the same place as a blood test). The injection is highly unlikely to have serious side effects.

Patients with known renal (kidney) disease should inform the MRI staff of this before any injection.

Please note that this is not the same kind of injection which you may have had before during X ray procedures such as CT (cat scanning). Traditional radiological contrast media often contain iodine. MRI contrast media usually contain Gadolinium or iron oxide combined with other products to reduce toxicity and make them safer to inject. The composition and low dose of MRI contrast injections leads to very few adverse reactions.

Occasionally the contast agent may be given as a drink (in abdominal scan procedures) or as a very small injection into a joint (in orthopaedic scans). Again, there are usually no noticeable side effects to worry about.

There is a new method of demonstrating blood vessels on an MRI scan. Known as Magnetic Resonance Angiography, this procedure can produce impressive studies, such as the one shown on the right. Again this technique only requires a simple, small injection into a vein in the arm.

If you have any concerns about your injection or have any serious allergies, particularly to previous injections of MRI contrast media (gadolinium or iron) please let us know in advance