DEAR DR. GOTT: My family doctor recently sent me to have an MRI done on my head to look for possible signs of an impending aneurysm. There is a family history of this problem on my father’s side. My problem is that my shoulders are too wide and with the slightest brush, the machine reverses me out. Do these units come in larger sizes? I have still not had the test. What is available to a larger person such as myself? Any advice or suggestions you may have would be most helpful as my family GP could not provide me an alternative. Thank you.
DEAR READER: Frankly, I’m astonished, and a bit dismayed, that your physician, the technicians/radiologists and/or hospital couldn’t provide you with an answer. For individuals who don’t fit into a conventional MRI unit or have extreme fear of enclosed spaces, an open or short-bore MRI may be considered.
Short-bore MRI machines, like traditional (closed) MRIs, have a cylindrical tube surrounded by a magnet with a movable exam table. However, unlike the standard version, part of the body remains outside the unit during testing.
Open MRIs are much different in that they are open on the sides accommodating very obese, large or claustrophobic individuals. Just a few years ago open MRIs were much less powerful than traditional MRIs, making them a last resort. Today, they are nearly or just as good as closed MRIs; however, they may not be appropriate for certain procedures.
Perhaps the reason that no alternative was provided was because your procedure fell into this category. However, your physician and the radiological staff should have explained the situation rather than leaving you to fret. Perhaps a CT scan or cerebral angiography would be an appropriate option. Given that there is a family history, it is important that you get a baseline reading and have regular follow-ups so that prompt treatment can be provided, should a potential problem arise.
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