MRI Abdomen Price, Purpose, Preparation, Results [2024]

• Price
• Purpose
• Preparation
• Procedure
• Result
• Sample Report

MRI abdomen or pelvis is a Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal and pelvis area of the body. It produces detailed pictures of abdominal organs like the Liver, Gall bladder, Pancreas, Stomach, Intestines, Kidneys, and Reproductive organs. This test can help in the diagnosis of Abnormal growths, Vascular problems, cirrhosis, Cancer, Hydronephrosis, etc.

It is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to visualize and create detailed images of the internal structures of the abdomen. MRI stands for Magnetic resonance imaging. It is safer than X-rays, and CT scans as it does not use ionizing radiation (x-rays). MRI also provides a clearer image of the soft tissues comparatively. MRI Abdomen price ranges from Rs 4500 to Rs 14400.

MRI Abdomen Test Details in Brief

Also Known As	Abdominal MRI, MRI of Abdomen and pelvis, CEMRI Abdomen, MRI Whole abdomen
Purpose	To distinguish normal, healthy tissue from diseased tissue in the abdomen and hence detect abnormalities in organs like the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, stomach, intestines, kidneys, reproductive organs, etc.
Preparation	4-6 Hours of fasting is required
Fasting	Normal MRI: Yes Contrast MRI: Yes
Machine Used	MRI machine (of varying strengths like (0.5T,1.5T, 3T)
Reporting Time	8 to 24 Hrs.
Cost	Rs. 4500 to Rs. 14400

What does an MRI of the abdomen include?

MRI Abdomen

The abdomen is the body region between the thorax (chest) and the pelvis. It can further be divided into the upper and lower abdomen.

MRI Upper Abdomen includes Spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, stomach, and small intestines.

MRI Lower Abdomen includes the intestines, ureter, urinary bladder, female reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tube), and prostate in males. There is a lot of overlapping in the pelvis and lower abdomen organs.

MRI Pelvis

Detailed Article on MRI Pelvis

It helps assess organs enclosed in the hip bone (pelvic girdle) like the urinary bladder and the reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries in females and the prostate gland in males. A pelvic MRI can be used to help visualize and stage cervical, uterine, bladder, rectal, prostate, and testicular cancers, as well as diagnose pelvic abscesses.

If a doctor wants a complete scan, she often recommends an MRI of the abdomen and pelvis region.

MRI Abdomen Price

This section provides the list of MRIs for the whole abdomen (Abdomen and pelvis) in various diagnostic centers and cities.

MRI Abdomen cost at Popular diagnostic centres

Cost in different cities

The MRI Abdomen cost depends upon the one recommended by your healthcare professional. The cost varies depending on the lab and the city.

City	Test Price
MRI Abdomen Price in Delhi	Rs 4500 to Rs 14400
MRI Abdomen Price in Mumbai	Rs 4500 to Rs 9100
MRI Abdomen Test Price in Bangalore	Rs 4500
MRI Abdomen Test Price in Hyderabad	Rs 4500 to Rs 8500
MRI Abdomen Test Price in Gurgaon	Rs 4500 to Rs 14400
MRI Abdomen Test Price in Chennai	Rs 4500 to Rs 4500
MRI Abdomen Test Price in Kolkata	Rs 4050 to Rs 5090

Purpose of MRI of Abdomen

• Evaluation – It is used as an evaluation tool for surgical, radiation, and medical therapeutic interventions.
• Diagnostic use– The doctor may use MRI Abdomen for the diagnosis of
  • Abnormal growths– It can distinguish tumors from normal tissues and can provide information for the staging of abdominal tumors by the determination of size, extent, and spread.
  • Vascular problems (blood flow related) – it can help detect an obstructed vena cava (an important vein carrying blood to the heart), renal (kidney) vein thrombosis, renal arterial obstruction, portal vein obstruction (liver), abdominal aortic aneurysm, etc.
  • Gallbladder related – Gallstones or bile duct stones, distended gall bladder or bile duct, or a tumor
  • Liver diseases like enlargement, cirrhosis, etc
  • Enlargement of spleen
  • Kidney related
    • Hydronephrosis– kidney enlargement from the Reflux of urine
    • Glomerulonephritis or the inflammation of the kidney glomeruli
    • Urinary Bladder growths
    • Acute tubular necrosis
    • Acute Or chronic renal failure
  • Cancers of the pancreas, liver, testis, ovaries, bladder, prostate, ureter, etc
  • Lymph nodes of the abdomen

Symptoms that may need MRI Abdomen for diagnosis

Persistent symptoms in the abdomen like

• Pain during urination
• Abdominal tenderness
• Abnormal bowel movements
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal distension or a feeling of heaviness
• Swelling or a lump in the abdominal region
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloody urine
• Decreased urine output

Preparation

• Remove all your jewellery and any metal wearables before the MRI scan.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes, or the technician may provide you with a gown before the scan.
• Unless your doctor suggests otherwise, you may take your medicines and food as usual.
• Report any allergic reaction or any medical conditions, or any recent surgery.
• Women should always report if there are any chances of pregnancy.
• If you are claustrophobic or have an anxiety issue, mild sedatives may be beneficial before the procedure.

You may not need to fast before the scan. However, in the case of an MRI Abdomen with contrast, you should fast for 4-6 hours before the test and carry your latest creatinine and urea blood test reports.

MRI Abdomen Procedure

The MRI Abdomen scan can be performed on an outpatient (OPD) or inpatient (IPD) basis.

• You’ll be asked to change into a gown and lie down on the MRI table.
• Straps are used to make the body still during the procedure.
• The table is then moved into an MRI machine for scanning.
• During scanning, ensure your eyes are closed as magnetic radiation may affect your eyes.
• While the procedure is going on, the technician will work on the computer to generate the report.
• This process takes 30-45 minutes.  
• Once the scanning is done you may be asked to wait for the test results.

MRI Abdomen with Contrast: 

• Contrast dye is used to get more data and precise images from your scan. ‌
• It is usually given by IV; healthcare providers will inject the contrast material through the vein in the arms/hands.
• It travels through your bloodstream, making your veins more visible on an MRI. This will improve your chances of discovering any problems in your abdominal region.
• The doctor may ask if you have asthma or allergies to contrast material, drugs, food, or the environment.
• MRI exams commonly use a contrast material called gadolinium.
• Doctors can use gadolinium in patients who are allergic to iodine contrast. A patient is much less likely to be allergic to gadolinium than to iodine contrast. However, even if the patient has a known allergy to gadolinium, it may be possible to use it after appropriate pre-medication. 

How long will the test take?

An MRI of the abdomen takes between 30-60 minutes, depending upon the information needed for your scan that is requested by your doctor.

What You Should Do After Your MRI Abdomen

• After your MRI Abdomen, you can resume your routine activities. If you took a sedative before the procedure, you would need someone to drive you home. ‌
• A radiologist will review your MRI images. Their examination results will be forwarded to your doctor, who will discuss them with you.
• You’ll need to drink a lot of water if injected with contrast dye. Because your body will flush the dye through your kidneys, it is important that you stay hydrated to avoid dehydration.

Risks of MRI Abdomen

MRI is a safe procedure if followed under appropriate guidelines. Some of the associated risks are –

• If you are claustrophobic, you may feel uncomfortable inside the machine during the scan. 
• The strong magnetic field is harmless but affects the function of implanted medical devices such as artificial joints, artificial valves for the heart, orthopaedic surgery metal plates or screws, pacemakers, aneurysm surgery’s metal clips, bullets, and other metal fragments.
• While using contrast material, the risk of allergic reaction is usually mild.

Benefits of MRI Abdomen

• The procedure is non-invasive with no exposure to radiation.
• MRI is an excellent tool for diagnosing and evaluating lesions and tumors in the abdominal region.
• It detects abnormalities that bones might cover.
• The contrast material used in MRI causes fewer allergic reactions when compared to the contrast material used for x-rays and CT.

Results and Interpretation

MRI images may be obtained in coronal, axial and sagittal planes.

Normal Results

The results are reported as normal when the anatomic structures, function, soft tissue density, and biochemical constituents of body tissues, including blood flow/rate, all appear within normal limits. For an abdominal MRI, the organs of consideration are liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals, stomach, and bowel loops.

Abnormal Results

Any abnormality in the anatomy of soft tissues in the abdomen is seen on the MRI as an abnormal or exaggerated signal.

An abnormal result may be due to:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Abscess.
• Cancer or tumors that involves the adrenal glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and intestines.
• Enlarged spleen or liver.
• Gallbladder or bile duct problems.
• Hemangiomas.
• Hydronephrosis (kidney swelling from the backflow of urine)

Sample Report

Here is the sample report for the MRI of the whole abdomen-

Limitations

• To obtain a High Definition image, the patient must remain as still as possible and may also have to hold his/her breath.
• In some cases, the patient might be too anxious, confused, or in severe pain, affecting their ability to stay still. For example, a CT scan may be preferred in cases of trauma.
• The opening of an MRI machine is like that of a hollow cylinder, and it may not fit an oversized person.
• An MRI exam typically costs more than other imaging modalities. It also takes more time than other imaging exams.

USG Abdomen Vs CT Abdomen Vs MRI Abdomen

Each modality has its own benefits and risks. Often a mix of all modalities may be used.

USG Abdomen	CT Abdomen	MRI Abdomen
Ultrasound does not pose any risk of radiation like in the CT scan.	A CT scan of the Abdomen uses ionizing radiation and is hence contraindicated in pregnancy. It is otherwise the preferred imaging technique for diagnosing the cause of persistent abdominal pains.	MRI is superior in most cases in which differentiation of soft tissues is necessary.
It is a simple, quick, and effective method to visualize the abdomen for preliminary checkups in case of abdominal pain.	A CT with contrast provides even clearer images of the underlying structures like any calcifications in kidneys, etc. Since it is quicker, it is preferred in trauma and emergency cases.	It can view organs that may be obscured by bone or foreign bodies on conventional x-rays or CT scans.
It is safe in pregnancy and is the preferred technique to monitor the growing fetus.	CT may be a better technique to view the function of the small and large bowel (intestines).	It is capable of showing the tissues from multiple viewpoints and is a noninvasive way to evaluate blood flow.

Some studies suggest that ultrasound provides the most accurate diagnoses in investigating gallbladder disease; MRI provides the most accurate diagnoses in investigating hepatic, adrenal, and pancreatic disease; and either CT or MRI may be the most appropriate first imaging study for the detection of renal disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, MRI Abdomen Scan is an important tool to diagnose various abdominal conditions and to detect any abnormalities in the abdomen. It helps doctors to diagnose and treat various abdominal conditions, such as tumors, infections, and diseases. It also helps to monitor the progress of treatment. Before getting an MRI Abdomen Scan, discussing the procedure and its risks with your doctor is important.

FAQs

How to book an MRI Abdomen?