Some people may associate getting an MRI scan with claustrophobia and other nuisances. Researchers and doctors have heard their patient's concerns and work hard to update techniques and machines to provide this scan in a more comfortable way. There are several options patients now have when getting an MRI in Beverly Hills, California and across the nation. Patients should discuss all of their options with a radiologist that offers these different MRI techniques to determine which is best for them. The best resource for more information about these scans is a medical professional at a scan center offering these scans.

Patients who find the traditional MRI problematic may turn to the Open MRI option. In this procedure, the patient lies on their back and a large disk hovers above them. On either side of the patient, the machine is open, making for a much more comfortable experience for most patients. However, a lower-field magnet is used for this procedure, which often produces lower quality images than the traditional MRI. This may make it harder for physicians to make diagnoses. Patients should consider the benefits of this procedure and the negatives that may arise.

Another possibility is an MRI scan that utilizes short bore magnets. These MRI scans are not completely open, but they are far less constrictive than the traditional MRI. These magnets are meant to combine the accuracy of the tunnel scanner while providing the comfort of an open MRI. These magnets are able to produce a high-field with excellent imaging, which often makes it much easier for physicians to view scans and make accurate diagnoses.

Short bore tunnels have also proven to be an important innovation in the field. These scans are designed to be more easily tolerated by patients who have difficulty lying still for extended periods of time. The high field units used in this scan produce the images much faster than a traditional MRI, which means less time spent in the tunnel for patients. Patients who experience claustrophobia or who have trouble lying still for long periods of time may look to short bore tunnels as a possible alternative to the traditional MRI scans.

One other possibility for patients looking to avoid the traditional option is the Stand-Up MRI. This has been recently developed to allow more flexibility in this procedure. Patients may assume a variety of positions in which to be scanned. Patients may sit, stand or bend over, allowing them to be more comfortable in many cases. This allows physicians the ability to examine images taken of the body when it is under normal weight bearing conditions. The physician can then further understand patient's bodies when they are standing or sitting, which is when symptoms may be present. This procedure is able to accommodate patients of above average weight, which means that most people are able to undergo a Stand-Up MRI and take advantage of MRI technology. The traditional MRI may have more restrictions for overweight individuals.

For patients in the Beverly Hills area, an MRI may offer further benefits that other scans may not. Patients who are interested in this procedure should consult a physician or a radiologist offering these scans. Patients should be sure to locate a scan center that is equipped with the latest machines and technology available so that they are ensured the safest, most accurate scan possible.