Pelvis MRI

The MRI equipment creates a powerful magnetic field. You cannot have this test in the following cases:

• You have a pacemaker or defibrillator
• You have an implant with metal or electronic circuits
• You have had any surgery in the past six weeks
• You have had a heart valve replaced (Read more: Heart valve replacement procedure)
• You have had any surgery on the head
• You have any auditory implants
• You have had any metal in your eyes due to welding or any accident
• You have swallowed any capsule camera

The test may be ordered for a male if he shows any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling or lumps in the testicles or scrotum
• Unexplained pelvic pain
• Undescended testicle
• Unexplained urination problems

If a female shows any of the following symptoms, a pelvic MRI may be ordered:

• A pelvic mass that occurs during pregnancy
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Pain in the abdominal area
• A mass in the pelvis
• Unexplained infertility

A pelvic MRI may also be performed in both males and females who have:

• Birth defects of the hips
• Injury or trauma to the hip area
• Unexplained hip pain
• Abnormal findings on a pelvic x-ray

Moreover, the test may be ordered to assess if cancer has spread to other regions to help decide the best course of treatment. It can be used for the following types of cancers:

• Uterine cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Bladder cancer

Before the test, you will need to remove all metal items such as jewellery and other accessories, which include watches, hairpins, eyeglasses and removable dental work and piercings from your body, and change into a hospital gown.

In certain cases, the doctor may need to inject a contrast dye into your blood. The dye helps get clearer images from the scan. However, it usually contains gadolinium, which may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Inform your doctor of any allergies or allergic reactions that you may have or had in the past.

You may need to clear your bowels before the exam and may also be instructed to fast for four to six hours prior to the scan. Depending on the purpose of the test, women may need to have a full bladder.

Inform your healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant or if there is any chance of being pregnant. Due to the strong magnetic field, women in the first trimester should not have an MRI scan, unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Gadolinium dyes should also be avoided unless necessary. 

Let your doctor know if you have claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces, or anxiety. In such a case, they may prescribe some sedatives before the scan to help you. 

Young children and infants may require sedation to prevent movement during the scan.

A pelvis MRI is done in the following way:

• You will be required to lie on your back on a table, which moves into the MRI equipment.
• Small devices with coils will be placed around your hip or pelvic area. These coils receive and transmit radio waves.
• If the use of a contrast dye is required, a doctor may inject the dye using an intravenous (iv) line. The dye will be administered after the first few initial scans.
• Once the dye is injected, more scans will be performed.
• When the test is over, the iv line will be removed.
• The test usually lasts for 30-50 minutes.
• The person operating the equipment will be monitoring you from another room.

MRI is a painless test. However, there will be loud thumping and humming noise when the machine is on, and you may need earplugs to dull the sound.

Also, the MRI table may feel a bit cold. Ask for a blanket if it helps.

Normal results in a pelvis MRI indicate that you have no health condition.

Abnormal results in a male may be due to the following conditions:

• Bladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer

Abnormal results in a female may indicate the following conditions:

• Bladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Congenital defect of the reproductive organs
• Ovarian growths
• Defects of the structure of the reproductive organs
• Uterine fibroids

Abnormal results may be seen in both men and women due to the following conditions:

• Congenital disabilities of the hip joint
• Hip fracture
• Osteoarthritis
• Bone tumour

Discuss your reports with your healthcare provider for further details.

 The benefits of the pelvis MRI are as follows:

• Non-invasive technique
• No exposure to radiation
• Can take images of soft tissues
• Can help in diagnosing different conditions such as cancers, muscle and bone abnormalities and heart and vascular diseases
• Can detect abnormalities that may be hidden behind bones

The risks associated with pelvic MRI are as follows:

• Minor risk of an allergy due to the contrast dye
• Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a rare complication, is known to be caused due to gadolinium dye in people with severe kidney disease
• The strong magnetic field may cause implants and medical devices to malfunction

After the MRI, you do not need any time to recover, unless you were provided with any medicines to relax. You can have your medicines and diet and perform activities normally as earlier.

Other tests that can be performed with a pelvis MRI typically for pelvic pain are:

• Laparoscopy
• Cystoscopy

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.