Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

MRI scans capture images of the body in very high resolution, enabling the physician to distinguish very small, delicate details in the tissues and organs.

MRI scanning is one of the most advanced tools for diagnosing a variety of medical conditions.

How MRIs work

MRIs use a magnetic field and radio waves to create clear cross-sectional images of the body to help identify pathological or structural abnormalities in or damage to soft tissues or organs.

MRIs can be performed on all areas of the body, such as the brain, prostate, lungs, spine, or knees. MRI scans of the breast are performed for women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer gene variant and for patients with silicone implants.

MRI scans are not invasive or painful. Prior to the scan, some patients are injected with contrast material to enhance image quality.

Assuta offers Israel’s only open MRI

The open MRI machine performs dynamic orthopedic imaging scans, giving you a range of positions and angles, including standing, lying down, or bending forward or backward.

The device offers a welcome solution for people who have difficulty undergoing scans in closed MRI machines due to claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces) or because they do not fit in closed devices, such as people with obesity, large build, or scoliosis.

Detailed diagnostic images

The MRI produces detailed pictures of patient anatomy and physiological processes by performing non-invasive scans. These images help diagnose orthopedic conditions such as cancer, head injuries, and herniated discs.

Additional important benefits of the open MRI

The MRI’s outstanding accuracy promotes early and precise detection and diagnosis, helping physicians tailor the best treatment plan for each patient.

The flexibility in patient positions and angles can potentially detect or rule out certain conditions that are difficult to pinpoint in traditional MRIs that require the patient to lie flat.

Because the machine is open, in some cases, patients do not need to be anesthetized for the scan.

About Assuta’s open MRI

The open MRI is located at the Imaging Institute of Assuta Hospital at Ramat HaHayal in Tel Aviv.

MRI scans in Israel
Israel has dozens of MRI machines, performing 328,000 tests every year, 62,000 of them (about 20%) at Assuta Medical Centers.

How do patients prepare for the scan?

The scan may take about an hour, so patients should plan accordingly. Usually no fasting or other preparations are required.