Commonly Ordered MRI Procedures and their indications

The procedures and indications below are guidelines for commonly ordered MRI procedures. If you have any questions in regards to
ordering or scheduling an MRI procedure, please feel free to contact the MRI Department at 740−2661 or a Radiologist at 740−2692.

MRI ABDOMEN − WITHOUT MRI BRAIN (head)− WITHOUT

MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangio−Pancreatography) May be without or with/without @ physicians request
Done to evaluate: Done for:
● Biliary tract, common bile duct ● Headaches (HA)
● Pancreatic duct ● Tremors
● Gall bladder stones ● CVA or TIA (Stroke or mini stroke)
● Chiari malformation
MRI ABDOMEN− WITH/WITHOUT ● Memory loss
Done for: ● Dementia
● Liver pathology (hemangiomas, masses, etc)
● Kidney pathology (cysts, tumors) MRI BRAIN (head)− WITH/WITHOUT
● Adrenal pathology (cysts, tumors) Done for:
● Pancreas pathology(cysts, tumors) ● MS (multiple sclerosis)
● Splenic pathology (cysts, tumors) ● CVA or TIA (stroke or mini stroke)
● Abd pain ● Tumors, cancer or mets
● Seizures/epilepsy/Parkinsons
MRI BRACHIAL PLEXUS−WITH AND WITHOUT ● Lacunar infarction
Done for: ● Hearing loss
● Neuroma or suspected tumors ● Vertigo (dizziness)
● Injury to brachial plexus region ● Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
● Brachial plexopathy ● Pituitary tumors /adenomas
● Peripheral neuropathy ● paresthesia

MRI CHEST− WITH/WITHOUT MRI ORBIT/ FACE/NECK − WITH/WITHOUT

CT is suggested for most evaluation of the Chest, Done for:
MRI Done for: ● Any soft tissue mass in neck or face area or cancer
● Soft tissue masses in the chest/mediastinum area in those areas
● Mesothelioma ● Parotid tumor
● Nasopharynx tumor
MRI PELVIS− WITHOUT ● Pharynx
Done for: ● Orbital tumors
● SI joint pain ● Abscess
● Pelvis fracture ● Cervical Adenopathy
● Sacral and/or coccyx disorders
TMJ− WITHOUT
MRI PELVIS− WITH/WITHOUT Done for:
Done for: ● Osteo−arthritis
● Ovarian or uterine pathology, fibroid tumors ● Cartilage injury
● Bladder pathology ● TMJ disorders
● Mass, Mets to bone ● Jaw pain
● CA of Prostate
● Plexus lesions

MRA ABDOMEN− WITH MRA BRAIN (head) WITHOUT contrast always

Done for: Done for:
● Renal artery stenosis ● Aneurysm
● HTN (High blood pressure) ● AVM (arterial venous malformation)
● Bowel Ischemia ● CVA (stroke) TIA
● Acute renal failure ● Cavernous angioma
● Atherosclerotic disease
MRA NECK− WITH / WITHOUT
MRA ABDOMEN/PELVIS/BILATERAL LOWER Done for:
EXTREMITIES WITH/WITHOUT (runoff) ● Carotid stenosis (blockage)
Done for: ● Vertebral artery injury
● Claudication ● Atherosclerotic disease
● Visualization of aorta, bifurcation & lower extremities ● CVA/TIA
● Arterial stenosis

MRA CHEST− WITH

Done for:
● Aortic dissection/aneurysm/anomalies
● Subclavian steal

Wentworth−Douglass Hospital
DEPARTMENT OF IMAGING SERVICES
MRI ORDERING CHEAT SHEET
7040−142
Rev. 05/04/12 Page 1 of 2
 All spines should be done with/without contrast for history of surgery within the past ten years to that part of the spine, history of
cancer, infections. All other spines should be done without contrast.

WITHOUT CONTRAST WITH/WITHOUT CONTRAST

MRI CERVICAL SPINE − w/o MRI CERVICAL SPINE − w/ w/o
Done for: Done for:
● Neck pain (cervicalgia) ● Cancer or mets
● HNP(herniated disk) ● Infection / abscess
● Arm tingling/numbness/weakness/pain ● MS, hemipeligia/paresthesia
● Cervical radiculopathy/radiculitis ● Myelopathy
● Stenosis ● Syrinx
● Arthropathy ● Tumor
● Surgery to c−spine within past 10yrs

MRI THORACIC SPINE − w/o MRI THORACIC SPINE − w/ w/o

Done for: Done for:
● Upper/mid back pain ● Cancer or mets
● Compression fracture ● Surgery to t−spine within past 10yrs
● Osteoporosis ● Multiple myeloma
● Herniated disk ● Infection / abscess
● Stenosis ● MS (multiple sclerosis)
● Radiculitis or radiculopathy ● Transverse myelitis
● Syrinx
MRI LUMBAR SPINE − w/o
Done for: MRI LUMBAR SPINE − w/ w/o
● Low back pain (lumbago) Done for:
● HNP (herniated disk) ● Cancer or mets
● Lumbar radiculopathy or radiculitis ● Infection
● Lower extremity numbness/tingling/weakness ● Abscess
● Myelopathy ● Mass
● Previous lumbar surgery within past 10yrs
● Loss of bowel or bladder control ● Cauda Equina syndrome
● Spinal stenosis

MRI UPPER EXTREMITY− MRI LOWER EXTREMITY−

● Upper any joint= shoulder, elbow, or wrist ● Lower any joint= Knee, Hip or Ankle
● Upper other than joint= humerus, forearm, or hand ● Lower other than joint= femur, Tib/Fib or foot

All MRI extremities without All MRI extremities with and without contrast
Done for: Done for:
● Pain ● Cancer, tumors, or infection.
● Avn ● Osteomyelitis
● Muscle/ligament tear ● Abscess
● Injury ● Masses or soft tissue lumps
● Internal derangement
● Swelling
● Arthristis
● Tendonditis

ARTHROGRAM (Special Exam)

● This should be ordered as two part test:
● X−ray arthrogram shoulder, hip, elbow or wrist to be
done first
Dr. Shawn Rayder, President
● MRI Upper Extremity any Joint With to follow Seacoast Radiology
● Arthrograms due not need creatinine prior

Wentworth−Douglass Hospital
DEPARTMENT OF IMAGING SERVICES
MRI ORDERING CHEAT SHEET
7040−142
Rev. 05/04/12 Page 2 of 2