How long do you stay in an MRI?

How long you lie in the MRI scanner depends on the area being examined and how many image series are needed. For most examinations, you lie in the scanner for about 15 to 45 minutes. A simple examination, which only concerns a knee or shoulder, often takes around 20 minutes, while more extensive examinations – such as of the entire spine or several organs – can take up to 60 minutes.

The examination takes place in a spacious, cylindrical MRI scanner where you lie still on a bed that is inserted into the machine. You will be given hearing protection because the machine is loud during the image capture. The examination is completely painless and takes place in shorter sequences with pauses between image series. You can always contact the staff via microphone and speaker.

If you are worried about lying in the MRI scanner for a long time or have mild claustrophobia, you can let us know when you activate the referral. The clinic can then adapt the examination or offer extra support if needed.