An MRI of the abdomen is a method to create detailed pictures of the inside of the belly area. Unlike x-rays and CT scans, which use radiation, MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The MRI scanner contains the magnet. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is about 10 thousand times greater than the earth's.
The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms in the body to line up in a certain way (similar to how the needle on a compass moves when you hold it near a magnet). When radio waves are sent toward the lined-up hydrogen atoms, they bounce back, and a computer records the signal. Different types of tissues send back different signals.
MRI is sometimes used to avoid the dangers of angiography, repeated radiation exposure and/or iodine-related allergic reactions.
An abdominal MRI provides detailed pictures of the belly area from many different views. Used to clarify findings from previous x-rays or CT scans, MRI can distinguish tumors from normal tissues and can help the doctor determine the tumor's size, severity and spread. This is called staging.
This test may be used to diagnose or evaluate:
Abnormal growths and tumors
Blood flow in the abdomen
Blood vessels in the abdomen
Lymph nodes in the abdomen
How certain organs in the abdomen work
You may not be able to have an MRI if you have any of these metallic objects in your body: