When is an MRI scan of the head needed?
An MRI scan of the head may be used when symptoms suggest a closer examination of the brain is necessary. Consider persistent or unexplained headaches, dizziness, neurological complaints, or follow-up after a previously found abnormality.
Frequently recurring headaches or migraines may also warrant further examination. Headaches often have another cause, such as stress, poor posture, or sinus inflammation. However, there may sometimes be another underlying cause.
An MRI of the head can also be performed preventively, without specific symptoms. The brain scan can then be part of a broader preventive health examination to gain insight into brain health.
Whether an MRI is the right examination for complaints depends on the personal situation and is assessed by a doctor.
What can you see on an MRI scan of the head and brain?
An MRI of the brain provides detailed imaging of the brain tissue and surrounding structures. This can reveal various abnormalities, but not every condition or cause of symptoms is well assessed with a standard MRI of the head.
On the MRI scan, we can see, among other things:
- brain injuries, for example after trauma
- brain tumors
- a stroke
- larger brain hemorrhages
- inflammations of the sinuses
Some structures and abnormalities are less well assessed with this MRI. This applies, for example, to abnormalities of the eyes and ears, the skull bones, and indications of dementia. Also, with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), a cause cannot always be found.
Abnormalities of the jaw, teeth, mouth and throat, small cranial nerves, and skin abnormalities cannot be assessed with this examination. For a targeted assessment of an aneurysm, additional research is needed, for which we refer to our MRI of the neck vessels. A brain scan can thus provide a lot of information but also has clear limits. Which scan is most suitable depends on what needs to be examined.
How does an MRI scan of the head proceed?
During an MRI scan, you lie on an examination table that is slid into the tunnel of the MRI scanner. It is important to remain as still as possible while the images are being taken. For an MRI of the head, a special cap or coil is placed around the head. This helps to capture detailed images of the brain. At Prescan, this is equipped with a small mirror so you can watch a video from within the scanner.
An MRI scanner makes loud, ticking, and knocking noises during the examination. Therefore, you are given headphones to muffle the noise. During the examination, the MRI technician can communicate with you. You also receive a bell in your hand. If you feel uncomfortable during the examination or want to contact the technician, you can use this.
An MRI scan of the head usually takes 45 minutes. Including a prior intake and a follow-up discussion with our radiologist, you will spend about an hour in total.
